Photo: Jet Lowe · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Windber faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Windber gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #767 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 23 claims here since 1983.
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 Windber 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 Windber’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Windber, and Windber’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #767 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Windber’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, Windber has more expected damage per building than 74% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Windber: $961K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Windber flood? Sometimes: 23 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Windber, from FEMA’s records: 11.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee1 claim · $13K
Windber isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Somerset County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Windber
Disasters that paid out in Windber itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Windber), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan5 households applied for aid$12K aid approved
Somerset County has had 17 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 Windber after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Windber archive →Windber and its neighbors
Windber is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paint Township | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Windber | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Paint | — | 842 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 Windber 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 Windber
Is Windber at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Windber has higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #767 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 Windber flood?
Flood insurance has paid 23 claims in Windber since 1983, $163K in all, or 11.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (1).
Is Windber 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 Somerset County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Windber?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Windber’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 Windber?
By FEMA money that reached Windber, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 5 households applied for aid, $12K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 1 paid, $13K.
Is Windber at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Windber’s rate for it is higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Windber.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Windber’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.