Enter any address in Franklin County, Pennsylvania to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the most frequent type of flood event in Franklin County, PA, with 44 occurrences in the last 30 years. Other flood events, including general floods and tropical storms, have also been recorded. For example, flash flooding was reported in Washington Township in August 2025 following heavy rainfall. More widespread flooding, affecting areas including Franklin County, occurred in May 2025 due to a deep stream of moisture from the Atlantic.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $7,088 and an average water depth of 2.8 feet. Properties in Zone X_SHADED have also seen significant payouts, averaging $14,653 with 2.8 feet of water. Homeowners in or near floodplains, particularly those in Zone A or X_SHADED, should be aware of their flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
6 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Franklin County, Pennsylvania has recorded 61 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 44 flash floods and 16 river or area floods. The county has received 20 federal disaster declarations, 6 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1972–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Jan 22, 2016 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 26, 2012 |
| Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee | Flood | Sep 3, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms | Snowstorm | Feb 5, 2010 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Jun 23, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Tropical Depression Ivan | Hurricane | Sep 17, 2004 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances | Severe Storm | Sep 8, 2004 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Aug 16, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 13, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 19, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 19, 2019 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 28, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 8, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 16, 2014 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 12, 2014 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Aug 16, 2025
Diurnally driven showers and thunderstorms from the late evening hours of August 15, 2025 continued into the early morning hours of August 16th across eastern Pennsylvania. A non-severe thunderstorm drifted northward into Schuylkill County, producing efficient rainfall in a favorable moist environment, with gauge reports indicating between 3 and 6 inches of rainfall in a two-to-three hour timef...
Flash Flood — Jul 14, 2025
A fairly moist and unstable environment ahead of a shortwave trough allowed for showers and thunderstorms to begin forming across central Pennsylvania during the morning hours of July 14, 2025. Showers and thunderstorms became more numerous into the early afternoon hours, pushing eastward through the evening hours. Saturated soils across eastern Pennsylvania from recent flooding allowed for num...
Flood — May 13, 2025
A deep stream of moisture was pulled northwestward from the Atlantic Ocean into the mountains of south-central Pennsylvania around an upper level low centered over the Ohio Valley during the afternoon and evening hours of May 13. 2025. This led to extensive flooding and flash flooding across Somerset County and southwestern Bedford County, and more sporadic flooding from the remainder of Bedfor...
Flood — Jan 9, 2024
Warm advection ahead of low pressure pushing up the Ohio Valley produced a 4 to 6 hour period of moderate to heavy snow across the southern Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania during the morning of January 9, 2024. As much as 12 inches of snowfall was observed atop the Allegheny Front in eastern Somerset and eastern Cambria counties, with localized snowfall rates of 2-3 inches per hour. This sy...
Flash Flood — May 19, 2019
An upper level disturbance moving through the region brought showers and thunderstorms with heavy rainfall that caused flooding through southern Franklin county.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Franklin County, Pennsylvania:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Franklin County, Pennsylvania that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.