Photo: Umrok · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Wilkes-Barre’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wilkes-Barre gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #939 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 523 claims here since 1978.
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 stands out about Wilkes-Barre’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wilkes-Barre, and Wilkes-Barre’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #939 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wilkes-Barre’s residents live in 16 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, Wilkes-Barre has more expected damage per building than 91% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $14.0M a year in losses across Wilkes-Barre: $11.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wilkes-Barre flood? Yes: 523 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wilkes-Barre, from FEMA’s records: 26.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan117 claims · $1.3M
- Tropical Storm Lee43 claims · $1.3M
- Hurricane Gloria11 claims · $13K
Wilkes-Barre is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Luzerne County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Wilkes-Barre
Disasters that paid out in Wilkes-Barre itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Wilkes-Barre), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee276 households applied for aid$966K aid approved43 flood claims paid for it, $1.3M
- 2011Hurricane Irene15 households applied for aid$14K aid approved2 flood claims paid for it, $106K
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides107 households applied for aid$78K aid approved62 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding11 households applied for aid$5K aid approved6 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan226 households applied for aid$297K aid approved117 flood claims paid for it, $1.3M
Luzerne County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Wilkes-Barre after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wilkes-Barre archive →Wilkes-Barre and its neighbors
Wilkes-Barre is 7th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilkes-Barre Township | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Hanover Township | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 90 |
| Larksville | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Edwardsville | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Plains Township | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 198 |
| Kingston | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 108 |
| Wilkes-Barre | C−more damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 523 |
| Georgetown | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Wilkes-Barre 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.
- Wilkes-Barre residents get 20% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Wilkes-Barre
Is Wilkes-Barre at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wilkes-Barre has higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #939 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Wilkes-Barre flood?
Flood insurance has paid 523 claims in Wilkes-Barre since 1978, $6.1M in all, or 26.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 90 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (117).
Is Wilkes-Barre 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 Luzerne County, 53% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Wilkes-Barre?
Wilkes-Barre is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6), which takes 20% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Wilkes-Barre?
By FEMA money that reached Wilkes-Barre, Tropical Storm Lee (2011): 276 households applied for aid, $966K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 117 paid, $1.3M.
Is Wilkes-Barre at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Wilkes-Barre’s rate for it is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wilkes-Barre.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wilkes-Barre’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.