Here's something most Pennsylvania homeowners don't realize: your regular homeowners insurance doesn't cover flood damage. Not a drop. Whether you're near the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg or tucked away in the Pocono Mountains, flooding can happen anywhere in the state—and it does. In 2024 alone, the National Flood Insurance Program paid out more than $15.6 million in Pennsylvania flood claims, with all 67 counties experiencing destructive flooding at some point.
If you're trying to figure out whether you need flood insurance in Pennsylvania, you're asking the right question. Let's walk through what you need to know about flood risk, coverage options, and what actually makes sense for your situation.
Understanding Pennsylvania's Flood Risk
Pennsylvania's geography creates a perfect storm for flooding. The state has five major river systems—the Schuylkill, Delaware, Allegheny, Ohio, and Susquehanna—and when heavy rain hits or snow melts rapidly, these rivers overflow. Urban areas along these waterways see the most claims, but here's the kicker: over 40% of flood insurance claims in Pennsylvania come from outside FEMA's designated high-risk flood zones.
What does that mean for you? Even if your property isn't in what FEMA calls a Special Flood Hazard Area, you could still be at risk. A CoreLogic study identified more than 515,000 Pennsylvania properties outside these high-risk zones that still face moderate to high flood risk. That's half a million homes where owners might think they're safe but actually aren't.
Flash floods from severe thunderstorms are another concern. Pennsylvania gets intense summer storms that can dump several inches of rain in just a few hours. Poor drainage, aging infrastructure, and development on floodplains all contribute to flooding even in areas far from major rivers. The takeaway? Don't assume you're safe just because you're not near water.
How the National Flood Insurance Program Works
The National Flood Insurance Program is a federal program that makes flood insurance available to homeowners, renters, and business owners. As of December 2020, Pennsylvania had 47,638 active NFIP policies, with 85% covering residential properties. You can buy NFIP coverage through most insurance agents—you don't need to go directly to FEMA.
Here's how it works: NFIP policies cover up to $250,000 for your home's structure and up to $100,000 for your belongings. If you need more coverage than that, you'll need to look at private flood insurance options. The program covers direct physical damage from flooding, which FEMA defines as a general and temporary condition where two or more acres of normally dry land are inundated, or two or more properties are affected.
One important thing to know: there's a 30-day waiting period before your policy kicks in. So if you hear a storm is coming next week and rush to buy coverage, you won't be protected. Plan ahead. The only exceptions are if you're buying a home and your mortgage lender requires it, or if your community just joined the NFIP.
What Flood Insurance Costs in Pennsylvania
The average cost of flood insurance in Pennsylvania is $1,386 per year through the NFIP—significantly higher than the national average of $898. But that's just an average. Your actual premium depends on your specific property and flood risk.
FEMA rolled out a new pricing system called Risk Rating 2.0 that calculates premiums using property-specific factors rather than just broad flood zone designations. The system looks at your foundation type, how far you are from water sources, your property's elevation, local rainfall patterns, and your home's replacement value. This means two houses on the same street could have very different premiums.
Properties directly on riverbanks—especially along the Susquehanna or Delaware Rivers—typically pay higher rates due to documented flood frequency. If you live in Harrisburg, for example, you'll pay roughly three times more than someone in Philadelphia for similar coverage because Harrisburg faces greater flood likelihood. Riverfront homes in Pennsylvania average about $1,250 per year for flood insurance.
The good news? If you're in a moderate- or low-risk area (FEMA flood zone X), your premiums will be much lower—sometimes as little as a few hundred dollars per year. These Preferred Risk Policies are a great deal for the coverage you get, especially considering that 20% of NFIP claims come from low-risk areas.
Mine Subsidence: Pennsylvania's Unique Insurance Need
Here's something unique to Pennsylvania: mine subsidence insurance. Pennsylvania has thousands of abandoned underground coal and clay mines, and when these old mines collapse, they can cause significant damage to buildings above them. Your standard homeowners insurance doesn't cover this, and neither does flood insurance.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection offers mine subsidence insurance at very reasonable rates—about 27 cents for every $1,000 of coverage. So if you insure a $150,000 home, you'd pay just $41.25 per year. Coverage is available from $5,000 up to $1 million, and it covers damage to your home's structure and appurtenances like garages, decks, and driveways.
If you live in western or central Pennsylvania—especially in counties with historical coal mining like Washington, Greene, Westmoreland, or Cambria—this coverage is worth considering. It's cheap insurance against a real, if uncommon, risk.
Private Flood Insurance vs. NFIP
The NFIP isn't your only option. Private insurance companies have entered the flood insurance market in recent years, and they sometimes offer better rates or higher coverage limits than the NFIP. Private flood insurance averages around $78 per month ($936 per year) in Pennsylvania compared to $86 per month ($1,032 per year) for NFIP coverage according to some estimates.
Private policies can also offer additional coverage that NFIP doesn't, like covering temporary living expenses if you need to move out during repairs, or reimbursing you for pool and landscaping damage. Some private insurers also have shorter waiting periods or offer replacement cost coverage rather than actual cash value.
The catch? Private insurers can be pickier about what properties they'll cover, and rates can vary significantly between companies. It's worth getting quotes from both NFIP and private insurers to see which offers better value for your specific situation.
How to Get Started with Flood Insurance
First, figure out your flood zone. You can check FEMA's Flood Map Service Center online by entering your address. This will tell you whether you're in a high-risk zone (A, AE, AO, or VE), moderate-risk zone (B or X shaded), or low-risk zone (C or X unshaded). If you have a mortgage and you're in a high-risk zone, your lender will require you to carry flood insurance.
Next, contact your insurance agent or broker. Most agents who sell homeowners insurance can also sell flood insurance. Ask for quotes from both the NFIP and private insurers. When comparing quotes, look at coverage limits, deductibles, and what's actually covered—not just the premium.
Pennsylvania created a Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force in 2023 to study ways to make coverage more affordable and accessible, and their July 2024 report may lead to future assistance programs. In the meantime, remember that flood insurance is one of those things you hope you never need but will be incredibly grateful to have if disaster strikes. From 1975 through 2020, the average NFIP claim in Pennsylvania was $23,774—that's real money most people can't afford to lose.
Don't wait until the next big storm is forecast to think about flood insurance. With that 30-day waiting period, you need to plan ahead. Check your flood zone, get some quotes, and make an informed decision about whether coverage makes sense for your property and budget. Your future self might thank you.
