Natural hazards · Clifton

Clifton, PA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Clifton comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1985. 2 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Clifton?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Clifton to be higher than in 27% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding75%Cold waves9%Everything else16%

By hazard

What Clifton faces

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

Inland flooding

75% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 53% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

9% 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 windLightningAvalanches

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtTsunamisVolcanic 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 Clifton flood?

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

2paid claims since 1985

$9Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19852026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Gloria: 1 claim, $424
Tropical Storm Ivan: 1 claim, $8K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Clifton 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 Clifton

2 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into CliftonDeclared for Lackawanna County only

2006

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

1 household applied for aid $271 aid approved

2004

Tropical Depression Ivan

3 households applied for aid $5K aid approved

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

Around Clifton

Clifton and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Lehighmostly inland floodingLow

Cliftonmostly inland floodingLow

Thornhurstmostly inland floodingLow

Spring Brookmostly inland floodingLow

Coolbaughmostly inland floodingVery low

Covingtonmostly 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. Clifton covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Clifton’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Township of Clifton. 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 Clifton total about $1.2M 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.