Natural Disasters in Philadelphia, PA

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

99.6

Very High

Expected Annual Loss

99.4

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

88.1

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

48.5

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Heat Wave100.0Cold Wave99.8Winter Weather99.8

Hazard	Risk Score
Heat Wave	100.0
Cold Wave	99.8
Winter Weather	99.8
Tornado	98.7
Earthquake	98.3
Strong Wind	97.9
Lightning	96.2
Hail	95.1
Hurricane	94.3
Ice Storm	94.2
Coastal Flood	85.4
Landslide	76.3
Wildfire	28.7
Drought	21.7

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster Declarations

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

Most Recent

Hurricane

Sep 2021

Most Common Type

Hurricane

8 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Sep 10, 2021	Hurricane	REMNANTS OF HURRICANE IDA
Mar 30, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Mar 23, 2016	Snowstorm	SEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORM
Feb 6, 2014	Severe Ice Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Jan 10, 2013	Hurricane	HURRICANE SANDY
Oct 29, 2012	Hurricane	HURRICANE SANDY
Sep 12, 2011	Flood	TROPICAL STORM LEE
Sep 8, 2011	Flood	REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM LEE
Sep 3, 2011	Hurricane	HURRICANE IRENE
Aug 29, 2011	Hurricane	HURRICANE IRENE
Apr 16, 2010	Snowstorm	SEVERE WINTER STORMS AND SNOWSTORMS
Sep 10, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA
Sep 19, 2004	Hurricane	TROPICAL DEPRESSION IVAN
Sep 19, 2004	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL DEPRESSION FRANCES
Aug 6, 2004	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Mar 14, 2003	Severe Storm	SNOW
Sep 18, 1999	Hurricane	HURRICANE FLOYD MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATIONS
Jan 21, 1996	Flood	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Jan 13, 1996	Snowstorm	BLIZZARD OF 96

Showing 20 of 25 declarations

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

1,695

Total Claims Paid

$47,539,255

Avg Claim Payout

$28,047

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$201,544,013

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

234

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-4506	Biological	99	$179,424,672
DR-1898	Snow	59	$7,476,704
DR-4618	Hurricane	26	$6,369,014
DR-3180	Severe Storm(s)	26	$4,932,158
DR-3235	Hurricane	20	$3,199,867
DR-4030	Flood	4	$141,597

Philadelphia has a very high overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are heat wave, cold wave, winter weather. The area has had 25 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is hurricane (8 declarations). 1,695 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $201,544,013 in public assistance recovery funding.