Natural hazards · Elizabeth

Elizabeth, PA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Elizabeth comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 48 claims here since 1978. 1 federal disaster brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Elizabeth?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Elizabeth to be higher than in 89% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding94%Everything else7%

By hazard

What Elizabeth faces

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

Inland flooding

94% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 98% of U.S. places

Recorded about 7 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat 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 Elizabeth flood?

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

48paid claims since 1978

$390Kpaid to owners

6homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Sandy: 1 claim, $4K
Tropical Storm Ivan: 1 claim, $7K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (3) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Allegheny County.

Disasters that hit Elizabeth

1 federal disaster brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into ElizabethDeclared for Allegheny County only

2004

Tropical Depression Ivan

11 households applied for aid $25K aid approved

Allegheny County has had 16 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often floods and severe storms.

Around Elizabeth

Elizabeth and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Elizabethmostly inland floodingVery high

West Elizabethmostly inland floodingHigh

Forwardmostly inland floodingHigh

Elizabethmostly inland floodingModerate

Jefferson Hillsmostly 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. Elizabeth covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Elizabeth’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Borough of Elizabeth. 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 Elizabeth total about $961K 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.