Towanda Historic District · Photo: Nicholas · CC BY 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Towanda faces more hazard damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Towanda gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns, #963 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 12 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 Towanda 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 Towanda’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Towanda, and Towanda’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #963 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Towanda’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Pennsylvania town has lower expected damage than 71% of U.S. towns; within the state, Towanda has more expected damage per building than 93% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Towanda: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Towanda flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Towanda, from FEMA’s records: 7.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee6 claims · $663K
Towanda isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Bradford County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Towanda
Disasters that paid out in Towanda itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Towanda), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee144 households applied for aid$430K aid approved6 flood claims paid for it, $663K
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding8 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan33 households applied for aid$69K aid approved
Bradford County has had 17 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 Towanda after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Towanda archive →Towanda and its neighbors
Towanda is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Towanda Township | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| North Towanda Township | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Wysox Township | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| Towanda | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
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 Towanda 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 Towanda
Is Towanda at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Towanda has higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #963 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Towanda flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Towanda since 1979, $670K in all, or 7.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (6).
Is Towanda 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 Bradford County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Towanda?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Towanda’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 Towanda?
By FEMA money that reached Towanda, Tropical Storm Lee (2011): 144 households applied for aid, $430K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 6 paid, $663K.
Is Towanda at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Towanda’s rate for it is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Towanda.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Towanda’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.