Natural hazards · Archbald

Archbald, PA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Archbald comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 32 claims here since 1980. 3 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Archbald?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Archbald to be higher than in 52% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding81%Cold waves7%Everything else12%

By hazard

What Archbald faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

81% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 77% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

7% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 48% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Archbald flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Archbald, from FEMA’s records.

32paid claims since 1980

$236Kpaid to owners

3homes flooded more than once

19802026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Gloria: 3 claims, $7K
December Nor'easter: 1 claim, $9K
Tropical Storm Ivan: 1 claim, $18K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Archbald isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Lackawanna County.

Disasters that hit Archbald

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Archbald itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the Borough of Archbald.

Brought FEMA money into ArchbaldDeclared for Lackawanna County only

2006

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

51 households applied for aid $78K aid approved

2004

Tropical Depression Ivan

10 households applied for aid $18K aid approved

2003

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

2 households applied for aid $9K aid approved

Lackawanna County has had 19 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around Archbald

Archbald and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Mayfieldmostly inland floodingVery high

Jermynmostly inland floodingVery high

Blakelymostly inland floodingHigh

Jessupmostly inland floodingModerate

Archbaldmostly inland floodingModerate

Scottmostly inland floodingLow

Jeffersonmostly inland floodingVery low

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Archbald covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Archbald’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Borough of Archbald. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Archbald total about $2.7M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.