1,369 flood insurance claims·$20.5M paid·9 federal flood & hurricane disasters
Share of the whole county outline, rivers and lakes included; parts FEMA hasn’t mapped count as zero.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Flash flooding from severe summer thunderstorms dominates the flood profile of Lackawanna County. Over the last 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 84 flash flood events—resulting in 2 deaths—compared to 14 general flood events. Heavy rain-producing thunderstorms frequently impact the region, as demonstrated in August 2025 when a weak area of low pressure moved into Northeastern Pennsylvania. Storms passing through the Scranton metro area caused significant urban flash flooding of poor drainage and storm drain systems, leading to flooded roads and stranded vehicles.
Federal flood insurance claims data shows that flood risk extends across multiple zones, though high-risk areas bear the heaviest burden. Zone A accounts for the vast majority of claims with 1,017 filings, an average payout of $20,438, and an average recorded water depth of 12 inches. Moderate- and lower-risk areas also experience impacts, including 108 claims in Zone X_SHADED (average payout $11,205, average 11 inches of water), 105 claims in Zone X (average payout $13,238, average 12 inches of water), 96 claims in Zone X_UNSHADED (average payout $6,758, average 11 inches of water), and 42 claims in Zone UNKNOWN (average payout $5,827, average 13 inches of water). Properties located within Zone A, as well as homes situated near poor drainage and storm drain systems, should pay the closest attention to flood risks.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
17% of Lackawanna County’s flood insurance claims were on properties rated outside FEMA’s high-risk zones.
1,222 NFIP claims with a recorded rated flood zone, 1978 to date. The zone is the one FEMA used to rate that policy, which may not match today’s map. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 12 inches.
Drawn to scale against an 80-inch door. Even a few inches soaks flooring, the bottom of the drywall and anything plugged in near the floor.
Average of the depths reported on claims (zero and implausible values left out); FEMA’s record doesn’t say exactly where each depth was measured. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
The worst year was 1996, with 391 claims and $6.1M paid, the year of Severe Storms and Flooding.
Bar height is scaled by square root so ordinary years stay visible next to the worst one. NFIP claims by year of loss. Source: OpenFEMA.
50 NOAA storm reports from Lackawanna County describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Pennsylvania flood stories →
22 federal disaster declarations since 1972, 9 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Aug 10, 2018 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Oct 26, 2012 |
| Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee | Sep 3, 2011 |
| Tropical Storm Lee | Sep 3, 2011 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Nov 16, 2006 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides | Jun 23, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Apr 2, 2005 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
98 since 1996: 84 flash floods and 14 river or area floods.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 26, 2025 | $1,000 |
| Flash Flood | Jun 26, 2025 | $2,000 |
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2025 | $10,000 |
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2025 | $15,000 |
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2025 | $30,000 |
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2025 | $50,000 |
| Flash Flood | Aug 13, 2025 | $5,000 |
| Flash Flood | Aug 13, 2025 | $10,000 |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Flash Flood · Jun 26, 2025. A stationary frontal boundary draped over Northeast Pennsylvania triggered isolated, slow moving thunderstorms with heavy rain during the early to mid-afternoon. These storms drifted over highly urbanized areas and produced excessive rainfall and minor street and poor drainage flooding.
Flash Flood · Jul 14, 2025. A weak frontal system moving through a warm and excessively moist environment triggered thunderstorms with torrential rainfall. These storms were slow moving and produced copious amounts of rain which led to localized flash flooding of roads, small streams and a few residences over a good portion of northeastern Pennsylvania.
Flash Flood · Aug 13, 2025. A weak area of low pressure moved into Northeastern Pennsylvania during the afternoon which provided a focus for heavy rain-producing thunderstorms. Several storms moved through the Wilkes-Barre and Scranton metro areas during the afternoon causing significant urban flash flooding of poor drainage and storm drain systems. Many roads were flooded in the area with several reports of stranded vehicles in the area.
Flash Flood · Jun 7, 2025. Low pressure moving along a stationary front triggered slow-moving, heavy rain-producing thunderstorms during the early morning hours. Pockets of 2 to 3 inches of rain fell over just a few hours causing urban and small stream flash flooding along with road and bridge washouts.
National Weather Service narratives, lightly trimmed. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Every colour on the map above is a place on this drawing: where the ground sits relative to the flood FEMA plans for.
If a building in Lackawanna County is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
Outside those zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums are set for each building, so the only reliable price is a quote: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.