Enter any address in Union County, Pennsylvania to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Union County, PA. Between 2003 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 24 flood events and 20 flash flood events. For example, on August 7, 2023, severe weather produced widespread wind damage and tornadoes across south-central Pennsylvania, contributing to flooding in the region.
NFIP claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with 616 claims averaging $13,442 and an average water depth of 4.2 feet. Properties in Zone X and Zone X_Shaded also show significant claim activity, with average payouts exceeding $11,000 and average water depths of 2.5 and 4.2 feet, respectively.
Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in Zones X and X_Shaded, should pay particular attention to flood risk. Properties located in these zones have historically experienced substantial flood damage and higher water depths.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
8 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Union County, Pennsylvania has recorded 45 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 20 flash floods and 24 river or area floods. The county has received 18 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 (1972–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm Debby | Tropical Storm | Aug 9, 2024 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 26, 2012 |
| Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee | Flood | Sep 3, 2011 |
| Tropical Storm Lee | Flood | Sep 3, 2011 |
| 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 |
| Snow | Severe Storm | Feb 14, 2003 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Aug 7, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 7, 2023 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 4, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 12, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 16, 2014 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 8, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 28, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 10, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 7, 2011 | 800.00K |
| Flood | Mar 6, 2011 | 0.00K |
Flood — Aug 7, 2023
High CAPE (>2500 J/kg) and strong speed and directional shear contributed to a significant severe weather episode across south-central Pennsylvania during the afternoon and evening of August 7, 2023. Of note, a significant bow echo produced widespread wind damage and a trio of weak (EF0-EF1) tornadoes across southern York and Lancaster Counties.
Flash Flood — Feb 4, 2022
Warm temperatures and rainfall resulted in an ice jam on Penns Creek in the Millmont area of Union County.
Flood — Mar 12, 2015
With the milder temperatures beginning on March 11th���some minor flooding was reported across the HSA, mainly due to ice jams.||Later on Thursday March 12th an ice jam was reported by the public along Penns Creek upstream from the Route 104 Bridge, and a flood advisory was issued for parts of Union and Snyder Counties.||On March 13th and 14th temperatures again warmed along with a period...
Flood — May 16, 2014
Deep southerly flow transported a plume of seasonably high moisture into the region along a slow-moving, north-south oriented cold front. This favorable heavy rain pattern produced a stripe of 2.5-5.0 inches of rainfall from the northern Blue Ridge into the north-central mountains of Pennsylvania. Widespread small stream flooding and multiple road closures were reported with five river forecast...
Flash Flood — May 8, 2013
Training bands of locally heavy rain impacted parts of the middle Susquehanna Valley during the late morning and early afternoon. A deep east-southeast flow from the Atlantic pulled high moisture into the region around an upper-level low rotating northward from MD/VA. Rainfall rates of 1-2/hour were common with localized rainfall rates as high as 4/hour. Several locations around the Lewisburg, ...
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 Union 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 Union 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.