Natural hazards · Dalton

Dalton, PA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Dalton comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 10 claims here since 1983. 5 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Dalton?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Dalton to be higher than in 51% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding81%Cold waves7%Everything else12%

By hazard

What Dalton 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 76% 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 Dalton flood?

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

10paid claims since 1983

$87Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19832026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Gloria: 1 claim, $2K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Dalton 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 Dalton

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into DaltonDeclared for Lackawanna County only

2011

Tropical Storm Lee

3 households applied for aid $3K aid approved

2006

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

20 households applied for aid $47K aid approved

2005

Severe Storms and Flooding

1 household applied for aid

2004

Tropical Depression Ivan

11 households applied for aid $26K aid approved

2003

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

21 households applied for aid $29K aid approved

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

Around Dalton

Dalton and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Daltonmostly inland floodingModerate

North Abingtonmostly inland floodingModerate

Glenburnmostly inland floodingModerate

West Abingtonmostly inland floodingModerate

La Plumemostly inland floodingModerate

Waverlymostly 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. Dalton covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Dalton’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Borough of Dalton. 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 Dalton total about $1.6M 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.