Photo: Djorion · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Williamsport than in 81% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Williamsport gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns, #386 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 98 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 Williamsport’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Williamsport 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 Williamsport’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Williamsport, and Williamsport’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #386 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Williamsport’s residents live in 9 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, Williamsport has less expected damage per building than 63% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.0M a year in losses across Williamsport: $4.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Williamsport flood? Sometimes: 98 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Williamsport, from FEMA’s records: 7.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 68% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan9 claims · $166K
- Tropical Storm Lee2 claims · $221K
Williamsport isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lycoming County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Williamsport
Disasters that paid out in Williamsport itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Williamsport), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Tropical Storm Debby175 households applied for aid$704K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $49K
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee565 households applied for aid$1.8M aid approved2 flood claims paid for it, $221K
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan312 households applied for aid$422K aid approved9 flood claims paid for it, $166K
Lycoming 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 Williamsport after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Williamsport archive →Williamsport and its neighbors
Williamsport has the lowest expected damage per building of the 6 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williamsport | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 98 |
| Loyalsock Township | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 263 |
| South Williamsport | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Old Lycoming Township | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 552 |
| Woodward Township | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Duboistown | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Armstrong Township | — | 536 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Garden View | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Faxon | — | 727 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Susquehanna Township | — | not graded yet | |
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 Williamsport 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 Williamsport
Is Williamsport at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Williamsport has lower expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #386 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Williamsport flood?
Flood insurance has paid 98 claims in Williamsport since 1978, $1.3M in all, or 7.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 68% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 14 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (9).
Is Williamsport 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 Lycoming County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Williamsport?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Williamsport’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 Williamsport?
By FEMA money that reached Williamsport, Tropical Storm Lee (2011): 565 households applied for aid, $1.8M approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 9 paid, $166K.
Is Williamsport at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Williamsport’s rate for it is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Williamsport.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Williamsport’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.