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Natural hazard risk in Beaver County, Pennsylvania

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on FEMA, NOAA and OpenFEMA data. Published by Humblebee.

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively Low (score 75.3 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$35.5 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1972
13[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$13.7 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
22[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) gives Beaver County an overall Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, with a score of 75.3 out of 100[5]. The hazards with the highest FEMA scores within the county are inland flooding, landslide and strong wind[6].

FEMA risk ratings for each hazard

Ratings and expected losses from the FEMA National Risk Index. Each rating compares this county with all US counties for that hazard, from Very Low to Very High. They are planning estimates, not predictions, and they do not describe any single property.

FEMA rates the overall natural hazard risk for Beaver County Relatively Low compared with other US counties[5]. FEMA estimates Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards at $35.5 million a year[1]. By FEMA's sorted values, the largest parts of that loss come from inland flooding, then tornado, then strong wind[7]. Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of average yearly loss, and the index is not meant to predict next year's damage[8]. FEMA rates Social Vulnerability Relatively Low, which describes how susceptible social groups are to harm from natural hazards[9]. FEMA rates Community Resilience Very High, which describes a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards[10].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
Inland FloodingRelatively Moderate$30.1 million[11]
LandslideRelatively Low$21,000[12]
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$1.2 million[13]
LightningRelatively Moderate$649,000[14]
HailRelatively Moderate$678,000[15]
Ice StormRelatively Moderate$154,000[16]
TornadoRelatively Low$1.6 million[17]
EarthquakeVery Low$369,000[18]
HurricaneVery Low$115,000[19]
Heat WaveRelatively Low$308,000[20]
Winter WeatherRelatively Low$38,000[21]
WildfireVery Low$19,000[22]
AvalancheVery Low$115[23]
Cold WaveVery Low$179,000[24]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: coastal flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity[25].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

FEMA uses these two ratings to scale expected losses into the Risk Index.

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityRelatively Low37.7[9]
Community resilienceVery High91.8[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively Moderate for Beaver County, with a score of 87.0 out of 100[11]. OpenFEMA lists 205 residential flood insurance contracts in force as of 2026-08-03[26]. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, 19.6% of homes are insured[26]. OpenFEMA's NFIP claims data records 832 claims for losses from 1978 to 2026, and NFIP paid $13.7 million in total[3]. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the place to look up the flood zone for an address[27].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[11] Relatively Moderate, $30.1 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[26] 205 of 68,257 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[26] 802, of which 157 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 832 filed, $13.7 million paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[27]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 13 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Beaver County since 1972[2]. The most recent in the list is EM-3356-PA for Hurricane Sandy, declared 2012-10-29[28]. NOAA's tornado database records 22 tornadoes that touched Beaver County from 1950 to 2024[4]. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2024-05-25[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Beaver County, since 1972
Incident type Declarations
Hurricane[2] 3
Snowstorm[2] 3
Flood[2] 3
Severe Storm[2] 3
Tornado[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
EM-3356-PA[28] Hurricane Sandy 2012-10-29
DR-1898-PA[28] Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms 2010-04-16
EM-3235-PA[28] Hurricane Katrina 2005-09-10
DR-1555-PA[28] Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances 2004-09-19
DR-1557-PA[28] Tropical Depression Ivan 2004-09-19

How to prepare

Steps from Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, for the hazards with the highest FEMA ratings here. Follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service when a warning is issued.

Floods

Before

  • Check your flood risk with FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, and remember that floods do not follow map lines.
  • Sign up for your community's warning system. NOAA Weather Radio also broadcasts alerts.
  • Buy flood insurance through the NFIP well before a disaster. Homeowners policies do not cover flooding, and a new policy typically takes up to 30 days to go into effect.
  • Make a household plan with evacuation routes, shelter locations and what to do in a flash flood.
  • Keep important documents in a waterproof container and make password-protected digital copies.

During

  • If you are told to evacuate, leave right away and never drive around barricades.
  • Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwater. Six inches of moving water can knock you down.
  • If you are trapped in a building, go to the highest level, but do not climb into a closed attic.

Source: Ready.gov, floods

Winter storms and cold

Before

  • Insulate your home and learn how to keep pipes from freezing.
  • Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup.
  • Keep several days of supplies in case the power goes out, including medication and pet needs.
  • Put an emergency kit in your car with jumper cables, sand, blankets, water and snacks, and keep the tank full.

During

  • Under a winter storm warning, find shelter right away.
  • Stay off the roads if you can. If you are stuck in your car, stay inside it.
  • Run generators and grills only outdoors, away from windows, and never heat your home with an oven or stove.

Source: Ready.gov, winter storms and cold

Questions people ask

Is Beaver County at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively Moderate for Beaver County, and its Expected Annual Loss from inland flooding is $30.1 million a year[11]. FEMA's index is not meant to predict next year's damage[8].
Does Beaver County get tornadoes?
NOAA's tornado database records 22 tornadoes touching Beaver County from 1950 to 2024[4]. FEMA rates tornado risk Relatively Low compared with other US counties[17].
Is Beaver County at risk of earthquakes?
FEMA rates earthquake risk Very Low for Beaver County compared with other US counties[18].
How many disasters have been declared in Beaver County?
OpenFEMA lists 13 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Beaver County since 1972[2].
How can I check the flood zone of an address?
Look up the address in FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or ask the local floodplain manager[27]. County ratings do not tell you the flood zone of one address[27].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Beaver County is $35.5 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively Low, score 76.9). Of this, buildings account for $32.7 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $2.7... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 13 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Beaver County since 1972 (9 major disaster, 4 emergency or fire management). By incident type: hurricane 3, snowstorm 3, flood 3, severe storm 3, tornado 1. Biological (such as COVID-19) and other... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 832 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Beaver County, 682 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $13.7 million in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year paid).... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 22 recorded tornadoes touched Beaver County. The strongest were rated F3 (most recent of them on 1985-05-31). 1 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2024-05-25. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and the... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  5. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Beaver County is Relatively Low, with a Risk Index score of 75.3 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  6. Among the 18 hazards in the FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), the hazards with the highest hazard-type Risk Index scores for Beaver County are inland flooding (87.0, Relatively Moderate), landslide (81.7, Relatively Low), strong wind (78.1, Relatively Moderate). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Beaver County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are inland flooding ($30.1 million a year), tornado ($1.6 million a year), strong wind ($1.2 million a year), out of $35.5 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  8. FEMA's National Risk Index FAQ (December 2025): Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of the average economic loss in dollars from natural hazards each year. The index is not meant to predict how much damage a community will have in the next year, and a hazard can still cause damage where a rating is low. Scores... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Beaver County is Relatively Low (score 37.7). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Beaver County is Very High (score 91.8). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Beaver County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 87.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $30.1 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 2.68 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of... FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Beaver County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 81.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $21,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Beaver County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 78.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.2 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 2.48 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38... FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Beaver County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 76.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $649,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 41.15 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Beaver County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 73.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $678,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 4.1 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Beaver County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 62.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $154,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.53 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Beaver County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 56.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.6 million a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.19 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Beaver County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 55.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $369,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0005 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hurricane in Beaver County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 54.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $115,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.02 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 172 years for the Atlantic Basin... FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Beaver County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 45.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $308,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 1.95 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Beaver County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 35.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $38,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 11 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Beaver County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 34.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $19,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), avalanche in Beaver County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 30.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $115 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.01 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 28 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Beaver County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 16.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $179,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 2.95 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Beaver County: coastal flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity. FEMA uses Not Applicable when its source data has no historical record of the hazard in the community and the hazard is not considered geographically possible... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  26. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 205 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Beaver County, out of 68,257 residential structures, a penetration rate of 0.3%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 802 residential structures and 157 contracts, a rate... OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  27. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) produced under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood zones apply to specific properties: look up an address there or ask the local floodplain manager. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of... FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  28. Most recent federal disaster declarations for natural hazards (table on this page). OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations

FEMA's National Risk Index compares each county with all other US counties. Ratings are relative (Very Low to Very High), not a measure of safety. Never call a place safe, unsafe, good or bad to live in. Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss values are FEMA estimates for planning. They do not predict next year's losses and do not apply to a single property. Flood zones are set by FEMA flood maps for specific properties. County ratings and flood insurance counts do not tell anyone whether an address is in a flood zone. Disaster declaration, NFIP and tornado counts are records of the past for this county only. Do not compare with other counties unless a fact does.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Risk Index Dataset: National Risk Index Counties, v1.20 (December 2025). Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com on October 30, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.