Photo: Hshuvaeva · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Tamaqua than in 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tamaqua gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #891 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 31 claims here since 1979.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Tamaqua faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Tamaqua’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Tamaqua, and Tamaqua’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
C #891 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Tamaqua’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Pennsylvania town has lower expected damage than 71% of U.S. towns; within the state, Tamaqua has more expected damage per building than 86% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Tamaqua: $2.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Tamaqua flood? Sometimes: 31 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Tamaqua, from FEMA’s records: 9.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan1 claim · $9K
Tamaqua isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Schuylkill County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Tamaqua
Disasters that paid out in Tamaqua itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Tamaqua), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee2 households applied for aid$1K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides81 households applied for aid$53K aid approved22 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan6 households applied for aid$27K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $9K
Schuylkill County has had 20 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Tamaqua after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Tamaqua archive →Tamaqua and its neighbors
Tamaqua is 6th of the 6 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summit Hill | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Walker Township | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Schuylkill Township | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Coaldale | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| West Penn Township | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Tamaqua | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Tamaqua faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Tamaqua
Is Tamaqua at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tamaqua has higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #891 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Tamaqua flood?
Flood insurance has paid 31 claims in Tamaqua since 1979, $290K in all, or 9.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (1).
Is Tamaqua in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Schuylkill County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Tamaqua?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Tamaqua’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Tamaqua?
By FEMA money that reached Tamaqua, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides (2006): 81 households applied for aid, $53K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 1 paid, $9K.
Is Tamaqua at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Tamaqua’s rate for it is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Tamaqua.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Tamaqua’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.