Natural hazards · Heidelberg

Heidelberg, PA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Heidelberg comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 2004. 1 federal disaster brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Heidelberg?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Heidelberg to be higher than in 75% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding90%Cold waves6%Everything else4%

By hazard

What Heidelberg faces

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

Inland flooding

90% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 92% of U.S. places

Recorded about 7 times a year in the area

Cold waves

6% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 38% 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 Heidelberg flood?

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

9paid claims since 2004

$712Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

20042026

Biggest named events

Tropical Storm Ivan: 6 claims, $702K
Hurricane Ida: 3 claims, $10K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg

1 federal disaster brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into HeidelbergDeclared for Allegheny County only

2004

Tropical Depression Ivan

70 households applied for aid $603K aid approved

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

Around Heidelberg

Heidelberg and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Heidelbergmostly inland floodingHigh

Colliermostly inland floodingVery low

Scottmostly 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. Heidelberg covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Heidelberg’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Borough of Heidelberg. 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 Heidelberg total about $561K 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.