Natural hazards · West Hazleton

West Hazleton, PA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in West Hazleton comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is West Hazleton?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in West Hazleton to be higher than in 6% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding55%Cold waves16%Tornadoes7%Earthquakes6%Everything else17%

By hazard

What West Hazleton faces

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

Inland flooding

55% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 17% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

16% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 47% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

7% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 44% of U.S. places

Earthquakes

6% of expected damage

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

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong 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 West Hazleton flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in West Hazleton.

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Luzerne County.

Disasters that hit West Hazleton

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into West HazletonDeclared for Luzerne County only

2011

Tropical Storm Lee

2 households applied for aid $2K aid approved

2011

Hurricane Irene

2 households applied for aid

2006

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides

3 households applied for aid $757 aid approved

2004

Tropical Depression Ivan

4 households applied for aid $9K aid approved

Luzerne County has had 19 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and floods.

Around West Hazleton

West Hazleton and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

West Hazletonmostly inland floodingVery low

Hazletonmostly inland floodingVery low

Hazlemostly 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. West Hazleton covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to West Hazleton’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Borough of West Hazleton. 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 West Hazleton total about $918K 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.