Enter any address in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is a significant concern in Lebanon County, PA, with 43 such events recorded in the last 30 years. Heavy rainfall events, such as those experienced on June 30, 2025, and July 1, 2025, have brought intense downpours and the potential for rapid water level rises. These events are driven by moist and unstable atmospheric conditions, leading to thunderstorms capable of producing rainfall rates exceeding an inch per hour.
Over the past 30 years, Lebanon County has also experienced 34 general flood events, resulting in two fatalities. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates a substantial number of claims in Zone A (380 claims) and Zone X (69 claims), with average payouts of $25,541 and $20,435 respectively, and significant average water depths. Homeowners in Zone A, Zone X, and Zone X_UNSHADED should pay particular attention to flood risk, as these areas have seen a higher volume of claims and substantial financial losses due to flooding.
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.
Lebanon County, Pennsylvania has recorded 78 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 43 flash floods and 34 river or area floods. The county has received 19 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 |
| 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 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 30, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 1, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 1, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 18, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 1, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 1, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 19, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 11, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 31, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 24, 2018 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 30, 2025
A slow-moving warm front in an extremely moist (PWAT values exceeding 2.00, values closer to 2.25 across the Lower Susquehanna Valley) and unstable environment allowed for multiple clusters of thunderstorms to begin to form during the late morning hours and continue through the late evening hours of June 30, 2025. A shortwave trough stationed across the region allowed for enhanced lift, with re...
Flash Flood — Jul 1, 2025
A cold front stationed across west-central Pennsylvania began traversing eastward across the area during the afternoon hours of July 1, 2025. Ample instability and moisture ahead of the frontal passage allowed for showers and thunderstorms to develop, with thunderstorms producing rainfall rates well over an inch an hour. Shear across western and central Pennsylvania remained relatively low, kee...
Flood — Jul 1, 2025
A slow-moving warm front in an extremely moist (PWAT values exceeding 2.00, values closer to 2.25 across the Lower Susquehanna Valley) and unstable environment allowed for multiple clusters of thunderstorms to begin to form during the late morning hours and continue through the late evening hours of June 30, 2025. A shortwave stationed across the region allowed for enhanced lift, with relativel...
Flood — Dec 18, 2023
A strong coastal storm developed over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, crossed the Florida peninsula, and pushed northward up the East Coast from December 17 through December 19, 2023. This system produced 2-4 of rainfall across the eastern half of Pennsylvania, which led to localized flooding. As colder air rushed in behind the system, 6 to 8 inches of snow fell across portions of Pennsylvania's La...
Flood — Sep 1, 2021
The remnants of Hurricane Ida produced widespread heavy rainfall across Pennsylvania. Additionally, thunderstorms were observed southeast Of I-81 and the PA Turnpike. One of these storms produced wind damage in Adams 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 Lebanon 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 Lebanon 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.