Photo: Michael J at English Wikipedia · Public domainMore hazard damage per building is expected in Tunkhannock Township than in 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tunkhannock Township gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #887 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 87 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 Tunkhannock Township 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 Tunkhannock Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Tunkhannock Township, and Tunkhannock Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts.
C #887 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Tunkhannock Township’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, Tunkhannock Township has more expected damage per building than 86% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Tunkhannock Township: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Tunkhannock Township flood? Sometimes: 87 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Tunkhannock Township, from FEMA’s records: 47.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee20 claims · $1.1M
- Tropical Storm Ivan12 claims · $325K
- Hurricane Gloria1 claim · $3K
Tunkhannock Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Wyoming County.The storms Tunkhannock Township remembers
None of the 21 disasters declared for Wyoming County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Tunkhannock Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 201120 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storm Lee, declared for Wyoming County
- 199612 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Wyoming County
- 200412 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Wyoming County
Wyoming County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Tunkhannock Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Tunkhannock Township archive →Tunkhannock Township and its neighbors
Tunkhannock Township has the lowest expected damage per building of the 8 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tunkhannock Township | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 87 |
| Clinton Township | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Eaton Township | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 156 |
| Tunkhannock | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 99 |
| Washington Township | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Lemon Township | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Overfield Township | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Falls Township | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 147 |
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 Tunkhannock Township 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 Tunkhannock Township
Is Tunkhannock Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tunkhannock Township has higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #887 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). 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 Tunkhannock Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 87 claims in Tunkhannock Township since 1979, $2.5M in all, or 47.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (20).
Is Tunkhannock Township 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 Wyoming County, 24% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Tunkhannock Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Tunkhannock Township’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 Tunkhannock Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 20 paid, $1.1M.
Is Tunkhannock Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Tunkhannock Township’s rate for it is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Tunkhannock Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Tunkhannock Township’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.