Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0FEMA puts Tyrone’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tyrone gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #1,015 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 83 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 Tyrone 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 Tyrone’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Tyrone, and Tyrone’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
D #1,015 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Tyrone’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, Tyrone has more expected damage per building than 98% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.7M a year in losses across Tyrone: $2.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Tyrone flood? Sometimes: 83 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Tyrone, from FEMA’s records: 30.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan56 claims · $605K
Tyrone isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Blair County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Tyrone
Disasters that paid out in Tyrone itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Tyrone), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan200 households applied for aid$437K aid approved56 flood claims paid for it, $605K
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding Associated with Tropical Depression Frances33 households applied for aid$71K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
Blair County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Tyrone after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Tyrone archive →Tyrone and its neighbors
Tyrone has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyrone | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 83 |
| Northwood | — | 206 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Grazierville | — | 511 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Tyrone 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 Tyrone
Is Tyrone at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tyrone has higher expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #1,015 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Tyrone flood?
Flood insurance has paid 83 claims in Tyrone since 1979, $732K in all, or 30.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (56).
Is Tyrone 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 Blair County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Tyrone?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Tyrone’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 Tyrone?
By FEMA money that reached Tyrone, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 200 households applied for aid, $437K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 56 paid, $605K.
Is Tyrone at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Tyrone’s rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Tyrone.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Tyrone’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.