Pennsylvania has about ~72,000 active NFIP flood insurance policies, with an average annual premium of $740/yr under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0 methodology. The biggest flood risk areas in the state are Susquehanna River valley, Delaware River corridor, Schuylkill River (Philadelphia), Allegheny-Monongahela confluence (Pittsburgh). Private flood market availability: Moderate.
NFIP Policies in Force
~72,000
Estimate, federal flood program
Avg NFIP Premium
$740/yr
Risk Rating 2.0 average
Private Flood Market
Moderate
Carrier availability for higher limits
| Topic | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Top risk areas | Susquehanna River valley, Delaware River corridor, Schuylkill River (Philadelphia), Allegheny-Monongahela confluence (Pittsburgh) | Mandatory purchase in SFHA + federal mortgage |
| Recent major flood | Hurricane Ida remnants (Sept 2021); 2024 Susquehanna flooding | Drives claim data and premium revisions |
| Average NFIP premium | $740/yr | Risk Rating 2.0 phased increases (18%/yr cap) |
| CBRS coastal restrictions | No major CBRS zones | Mostly inland flood exposure |
NFIP statistics from FEMA's national insurance data; premium averages reflect Risk Rating 2.0 phase-in. Private flood market sized from state department of insurance filings. Always verify your specific property's flood zone at floodsmart.gov.
Pennsylvania is one of the most flood-prone states in the northeastern US, with a dense network of major rivers — the Susquehanna (which drains into the Chesapeake Bay through Maryland), the Delaware (Philadelphia's primary water source and eastern border), the Schuylkill through Philadelphia, and the Allegheny-Monongahela-Ohio system through Pittsburgh — all capable of catastrophic flooding during intense tropical or nor'easter precipitation events. Tropical Storm Agnes in 1972 remains Pennsylvania's deadliest and most destructive flood event. Hurricane Ida's remnants in September 2021 brought catastrophic rainfall to southeastern Pennsylvania — Bucks County, Montgomery County, and Philadelphia experienced intense flash flooding that killed over a dozen people in vehicles and basement dwellings and caused hundreds of millions in losses. The Susquehanna River at Harrisburg, Sunbury, and Wilkes-Barre has flooded multiple times in recent decades.
Pennsylvania has approximately 72,000 NFIP policies — among the higher state totals for an inland state — reflecting the state's recognition of its river flood exposure following multiple major events. The concentration is in Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware counties in the Philadelphia suburbs, in Dauphin and York counties along the Susquehanna, and in Luzerne County (Wilkes-Barre) which flooded severely in 1972, 2004, and 2011. Risk Rating 2.0 brought moderate increases to Pennsylvania, with higher-value suburban Philadelphia properties seeing the most impact. The statewide average of approximately $740 per year reflects the non-coastal character of most Pennsylvania flood risk. Private flood insurance is moderately available in the Philadelphia metro.
Homeowners and renters policies categorically exclude flood damage. You must purchase a separate flood policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private flood insurer. Note: there's a standard 30-day waiting period from purchase to coverage, so don't wait until a storm is forecast.
NFIP residential policies cap building coverage at $250,000 and contents at $100,000. Homes worth more than these limits should consider 'excess flood' coverage through a private insurer or a fully-private flood policy with higher limits.
Major flood event affecting Pennsylvania: Hurricane Ida remnants (Sept 2021); 2024 Susquehanna flooding. Repeated severe events tend to push up local NFIP premiums and shift more properties into mandatory-purchase Special Flood Hazard Areas.
💡 Pennsylvania Pro Tip
Flood insurance is required for federally backed mortgage holders in Pennsylvania SFHAs — which include extensive mapped floodplains along the Susquehanna from the New York border through Harrisburg and Columbia to the Maryland line, the Delaware River from the New York border through Easton and New Hope to Philadelphia, the Schuylkill through Norristown and Philadelphia, and the Allegheny-Monongahela-Ohio confluence in Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania's suburban Philadelphia counties have seen devastating Ida-type flooding; many residents in mapped Zone X areas discovered their coverage gaps in 2021. Any Pennsylvania property near a river, creek, or low-lying urban drainage corridor should carry flood insurance.
Pennsylvania's average NFIP premium is approximately $740 per year. Susquehanna floodplain properties in Harrisburg or Wilkes-Barre typically pay $700–$1,600. Delaware River floodplain properties in Bucks or Northampton counties pay $700–$1,500. Schuylkill corridor properties in the Philadelphia suburbs pay $600–$1,400. Zone X properties in lower-risk areas can access Preferred Risk Policies at $350–$600. Private flood insurance is available in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh metros.
NFIP flood insurance in Pennsylvania covers tropical storm and nor'easter-driven riverine flooding from the Susquehanna, Delaware, Schuylkill, Monongahela, Allegheny, and other rivers, urban flash flooding from intense rainfall in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and other urban areas, surface water flooding in low-lying suburban areas, and mudflow caused by flooding. It does not cover basement sewer backup (a very common Pennsylvania peril during Ida-type events), sump pump failure, or water intrusion through foundation walls from groundwater. Pennsylvania homeowners should maintain separate sewer backup coverage on their homeowners policies — it is an inexpensive add-on that would have covered many Ida 2021 claims that NFIP did not.
Data sourced from FEMA NFIP statistics and state Department of Insurance filings for Pennsylvania, April 2026.
Michael Torres
Editorial Lead, Catastrophe & Commercial Property
This article was researched and written by the Cover Forge USA editorial team against federal sources (NAIC, CMS, FEMA, DOL, SSA, state DOIs) and standard policy forms. Bylines organize content by topic — they do not assert individual licensure. See our editorial-policy for details.
Reviewed April 2026
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