Natural hazards · Scranton

Scranton, SC natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Scranton comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 2016. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Scranton?

High

vs. U.S. communities

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

Inland flooding31%Hurricanes31%Earthquakes13%Tornadoes12%Everything else13%

By hazard

What Scranton faces

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

Inland flooding

31% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 52% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Hurricanes

31% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 91% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 4 years in the area

Earthquakes

13% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 80% of U.S. places

Tornadoes

12% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 75% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 34 years in the area

Lower here

HailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Scranton flood?

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

8paid claims since 2016

$52Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

20162026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Matthew: 8 claims, $52K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Florence County.

Disasters that hit Scranton

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into ScrantonDeclared for Florence County only

2018

Hurricane Florence

14 households applied for aid $7K aid approved

2016

Hurricane Matthew

204 households applied for aid $127K aid approved $25K to the Town of Scranton for repairs

2015

Severe Storms and Flooding

325 households applied for aid $279K aid approved

2014

Severe Winter Storm

$6K to the Town of Scranton for repairs

2004

Tropical Storm Frances

50 households applied for aid $14K aid approved

2004

Severe Ice Storm

$14K to the Town of Scranton for repairs

Florence County has had 18 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe storms.

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. Scranton is smaller than a census tract, so it shares the figures of the tract around its center.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Scranton’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Scranton. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

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.