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Natural hazard risk in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

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

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively High (score 96.8 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$296.7 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1965
27[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$185.3 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
20[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index rates the overall natural hazard risk for Montgomery County as Relatively High compared with other US counties, with a score of 96.8 out of 100[5]. Within the county, the hazards with the highest FEMA scores are winter weather, strong wind and cold wave[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's National Risk Index estimates Expected Annual Loss from all natural hazards in Montgomery County at $296.7 million a year, with a rating of Relatively High[1]. This is FEMA's estimate of average yearly economic loss, not money anyone paid, and the index does not predict next year's losses[7]. Inland flooding accounts for the largest single estimate, at $192.6 million a year[8], followed by cold wave at $29.9 million[9] and heat wave at $20.3 million[10]. FEMA rates social vulnerability Very Low (score 19.8), which describes how susceptible social groups are to the harm hazards cause[11]. FEMA rates community resilience Very High (score 92.7), meaning a strong measured ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards[12].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
Winter WeatherVery High$3.5 million[13]
Strong WindVery High$9.6 million[14]
Cold WaveRelatively High$29.9 million[9]
Heat WaveRelatively High$20.3 million[10]
Inland FloodingRelatively High$192.6 million[8]
TornadoRelatively High$15.5 million[15]
EarthquakeRelatively Moderate$14.5 million[16]
HurricaneRelatively Moderate$8.9 million[17]
Ice StormRelatively Moderate$530,000[18]
LightningRelatively Moderate$756,000[19]
LandslideRelatively Low$5,914[20]
DroughtRelatively Low$367,000[21]
HailRelatively Low$234,000[22]
WildfireVery Low$26,000[23]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: avalanche, tsunami, volcanic activity[24].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

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

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityVery Low19.8[11]
Community resilienceVery High92.7[12]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk in Montgomery County Relatively High compared with other US counties, with a score of 98.1[8]. OpenFEMA data show 2,284 residential flood insurance contracts in force out of 262,652 residential structures as of 2026-08-03, a rate of 0.9%, and 46.9% inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area[25]. A HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA records counts 6,200 NFIP claims for losses from 1978 to 2026, and NFIP paid $185.3 million in total[3]. The years with the most paid claims were 2011 (668), 2021 (564) and 1999 (464)[3].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[8] Relatively High, $192.6 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[25] 2,284 of 262,652 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[25] 2,407, of which 1,130 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 6,200 filed, $185.3 million paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[26]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 27 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Montgomery County since 1965, including 8 for hurricanes and 7 for floods[2]. The most recent is DR-4618-PA, Remnants Of Hurricane Ida, declared 2021-09-10[27]. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center tornado database records 20 tornadoes in the county from 1950 to 2024, the strongest rated F3, most recently on 1994-07-27[4]. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2021-09-01[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Montgomery County, since 1965
Incident type Declarations
Hurricane[2] 8
Flood[2] 7
Severe Storm[2] 6
Snowstorm[2] 4
Severe Ice Storm[2] 1
Drought[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
DR-4618-PA[27] Remnants Of Hurricane Ida 2021-09-10
DR-4267-PA[27] Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm 2016-03-23
EM-3367-PA[27] Severe Winter Storm 2014-02-06
DR-4099-PA[27] Hurricane Sandy 2013-01-10
EM-3356-PA[27] Hurricane Sandy 2012-10-29

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.

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

Extreme heat

Before

  • Learn the signs of heat illness and how to respond.
  • Do not rely on a fan as your main way to stay cool. Fans do not lower body temperature.
  • Find cool public places, such as libraries or malls, or ask your local health department.
  • Keep heat out with window shades, weather stripping and insulation.
  • If you cannot afford cooling costs, contact LIHEAP for help.

During

  • Never leave a person or an animal in a parked car in warm weather.
  • If your home has no air conditioning, go to a cooling center.
  • Wear light, loose clothing, drink plenty of fluids and avoid hard outdoor work in the middle of the day.

Source: Ready.gov, extreme heat

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

Questions people ask

Is Montgomery County, Pennsylvania at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively High compared with other US counties, with an Expected Annual Loss estimate of $192.6 million a year[8]. NFIP paid $185.3 million for flood claims in the county from 1978 to 2026[3].
Does Montgomery County get tornadoes?
NOAA's tornado database records 20 tornadoes in the county from 1950 to 2024, the strongest rated F3[4]. FEMA rates tornado risk Relatively High compared with other US counties (score 95.6)[15].
What is the earthquake risk in Montgomery County?
FEMA rates earthquake risk Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties, with a score of 94.2 and an Expected Annual Loss estimate of $14.5 million a year[16].
How many federal disasters have been declared in Montgomery County?
OpenFEMA lists 27 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include the county since 1965, 20 of them major disasters[2].
How do I check if a home in Montgomery County is in a flood zone?
Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or ask the local floodplain manager[26]. County ratings do not tell you the flood zone of a single address[26].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Montgomery County is $296.7 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively High, score 97.5). Of this, buildings account for $199.0 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 27 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Montgomery County since 1965 (20 major disaster, 7 emergency or fire management). By incident type: hurricane 8, flood 7, severe storm 6, snowstorm 4, severe ice storm 1, drought 1. Biological (such as... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 6,200 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Montgomery County, 5,081 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $185.3 million in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 20 recorded tornadoes touched Montgomery County. The strongest were rated F3 (most recent of them on 1994-07-27). 1 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2021-09-01. 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 Montgomery County is Relatively High, with a Risk Index score of 96.8 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 Montgomery County are winter weather (99.8, Very High), strong wind (99.0, Very High), cold wave (98.4, Relatively High). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published scores;... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. 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
  8. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Montgomery County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 98.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $192.6 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 5.71 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record... FEMA National Risk Index
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Montgomery County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 98.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $29.9 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 0.89 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Montgomery County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 98.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $20.3 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 9.59 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18... FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Montgomery County is Very Low (score 19.8). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Montgomery County is Very High (score 92.7). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Montgomery County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 99.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $3.5 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 12.4 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Montgomery County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 99.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $9.6 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 6.99 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Montgomery County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 95.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $15.5 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 0.25 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Montgomery County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 94.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $14.5 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0014 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hurricane in Montgomery County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 89.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $8.9 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.08 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of... FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Montgomery County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 81.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $530,000 a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 1.44 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Montgomery County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 76.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $756,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 34.57 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24... FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Montgomery County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 68.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $5,914 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Montgomery County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 61.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $367,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 4.1 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Montgomery County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 42.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $234,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 2.59 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Montgomery County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 37.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $26,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Montgomery County: avalanche, 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 there. FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  25. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 2,284 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Montgomery County, out of 262,652 residential structures, a penetration rate of 0.9%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 2,407 residential structures and 1,130... OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  26. 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
  27. 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.