Natural hazards · Dickson

Dickson, PA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Dickson comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 14 claims here since 1979. 3 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Dickson?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Dickson to be higher than in 59% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding83%Cold waves6%Everything else10%

By hazard

What Dickson faces

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

Inland flooding

83% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 82% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

6% 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 Dickson flood?

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

14paid claims since 1979

$53Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Gloria: 3 claims, $4K
Tropical Storm Ivan: 1 claim, $38K
Hurricane Floyd: 1 claim, $694

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Dickson 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 Dickson

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into DicksonDeclared for Lackawanna County only

2006

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

7 households applied for aid $3K aid approved

2004

Tropical Depression Ivan

4 households applied for aid $3K aid approved

2003

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

1 household applied for aid $535 aid approved

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

Around Dickson

Dickson and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Olyphantmostly inland floodingHigh

Blakelymostly inland floodingHigh

Dickson Citymostly inland floodingModerate

Throopmostly inland floodingLow

Scottmostly inland floodingLow

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. Dickson covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Dickson’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Borough of Dickson. 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 Dickson total about $2.6M 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.