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Natural hazard risk in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

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

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively Moderate (score 87.8 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$76.3 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1971
18[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$21.6 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
47[4]

FEMA rates overall natural hazard risk in Westmoreland County Relatively Moderate, with a Risk Index score of 87.8 out of 100 compared with other US counties[5]. FEMA's National Risk Index gives the highest hazard scores within this county to lightning, inland flooding and landslide[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 18 natural hazards at $76.3 million a year[1]. This is FEMA's estimate of average yearly loss, not money anyone paid[7]. FEMA's sorted loss values show inland flooding at $65.9 million a year, then strong wind at $2.2 million a year and lightning at $2.2 million a year[8]. FEMA rates Social Vulnerability Relatively Low[9]. FEMA rates Community Resilience Very High[10]. The index does not predict losses for next year[7].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
LightningRelatively High$2.2 million[11]
Inland FloodingRelatively High$65.9 million[12]
LandslideRelatively Moderate$72,000[13]
Strong WindRelatively High$2.2 million[14]
HailRelatively Moderate$1.4 million[15]
EarthquakeRelatively Low$1.1 million[16]
Winter WeatherRelatively Moderate$143,000[17]
HurricaneRelatively Low$580,000[18]
Ice StormRelatively Moderate$162,000[19]
Heat WaveRelatively Low$622,000[20]
TornadoRelatively Low$1.6 million[21]
WildfireVery Low$64,000[22]
AvalancheVery Low$369[23]
DroughtVery Low$13,000[24]
Cold WaveVery Low$164,000[25]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: coastal flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity[26].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

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

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityRelatively Low30.2[9]
Community resilienceVery High92.8[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively High for Westmoreland County compared with other US counties[12]. OpenFEMA data as of 2026-08-03 lists 752 residential flood insurance contracts in force[27]. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area, 20.8% of homes are insured[27]. OpenFEMA lists 1,612 NFIP claims for losses from 1978 to 2026, and NFIP paid $21.6 million in total[3]. To check an address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[28].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[12] Relatively High, $65.9 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[27] 752 of 143,144 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[27] 2,720, of which 566 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 1,612 filed, $21.6 million paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[28]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 18 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Westmoreland County since 1971[2]. The most recent listed is DR-4267-PA, a severe winter storm and snowstorm declared 2016-03-23[29]. NOAA's tornado database records 47 tornadoes that touched the county from 1950 to 2024[4]. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2024-06-26[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Westmoreland County, since 1971
Incident type Declarations
Flood[2] 6
Snowstorm[2] 5
Hurricane[2] 3
Severe Storm[2] 3
Tornado[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
DR-4267-PA[29] Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm 2016-03-23
EM-3356-PA[29] Hurricane Sandy 2012-10-29
DR-1898-PA[29] Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms 2010-04-16
EM-3235-PA[29] Hurricane Katrina 2005-09-10
DR-1557-PA[29] 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 Westmoreland County at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively High compared with other US counties[12]. FEMA's index does not predict next year's losses[7].
Does Westmoreland County get tornadoes?
NOAA's tornado database records 47 tornadoes that touched the county from 1950 to 2024[4]. FEMA rates tornado risk Relatively Low compared with other US counties[21].
How many disasters were declared in Westmoreland County?
OpenFEMA lists 18 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include the county since 1971[2].
Is Westmoreland County at risk of earthquakes?
FEMA rates earthquake risk Relatively Low compared with other US counties[16].
How do I check a flood zone?
Look up the address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or ask the local floodplain manager[28].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Westmoreland County is $76.3 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively Moderate, score 88.4). Of this, buildings account for $70.1 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 18 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Westmoreland County since 1971 (12 major disaster, 6 emergency or fire management). By incident type: flood 6, snowstorm 5, hurricane 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): 1,612 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Westmoreland County, 1,255 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $21.6 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): 47 recorded tornadoes touched Westmoreland County. The strongest were rated F4 (most recent of them on 1980-06-03). 2 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2024-06-26. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  5. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Westmoreland County is Relatively Moderate, with a Risk Index score of 87.8 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 Westmoreland County are lightning (95.6, Relatively High), inland flooding (93.7, Relatively High), landslide (91.3, Relatively Moderate). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's... 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. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Westmoreland County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are inland flooding ($65.9 million a year), strong wind ($2.2 million a year), lightning ($2.2 million a year), out of $76.3 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Westmoreland County is Relatively Low (score 30.2). 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 Westmoreland County is Very High (score 92.8). 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), lightning in Westmoreland County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 95.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.2 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 42.37 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Westmoreland County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 93.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $65.9 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 4.82 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record... FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Westmoreland County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 91.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $72,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Westmoreland County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 90.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $2.2 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 2.41 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), hail in Westmoreland County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 85.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.4 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 2.66 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37... FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Westmoreland County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 73.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.1 million a year (rating Relatively Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0005 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Westmoreland County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 70.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $143,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 17.59 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record... FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hurricane in Westmoreland County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 69.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $580,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.03 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 172 years for... FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Westmoreland County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 62.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $162,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.35 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of... FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Westmoreland County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 59.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $622,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 1.45 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), tornado in Westmoreland County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 55.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.6 million a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.34 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Westmoreland County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 54.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $64,000 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 Westmoreland County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 44.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $369 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), drought in Westmoreland County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 25.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $13,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 0.1 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Westmoreland County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 14.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $164,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 3.44 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  26. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Westmoreland 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... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  27. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 752 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Westmoreland County, out of 143,144 residential structures, a penetration rate of 0.5%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 2,720 residential structures and 566... OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  28. 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
  29. 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.