Wayne County, PA Environment & Hazard Risk
Relatively Low natural hazard risk, led by hurricane. 505 storm events since 1996.
- Expected yearly loss
- $17.2M
- Relatively Low nationally
- Storm events since 1996
- 505
- Most often thunderstorm wind
- Flood insurance policies
- 152
- 0.5% of homes
- Hurricanes nearby
- 1
- 3 tropical storms or stronger since 1878
Natural hazard risk
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Overall risk
Relatively Low
Score 56.3 of 100
Social vulnerability
Relatively Moderate
Score 50.2 of 100
Community resilience
Relatively Low
Score 37.3 of 100
Community resilience runs the other way: a higher rating means a community can recover faster.
Building value exposed: $13.29B · Agriculture value exposed: $37.83M · Risk-adjusted yearly loss: $19.68M
Risk by hazard
- HurricaneRelatively Low$1.04M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 33 years
- LandslideRelatively Low$7,991/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
- Strong windRelatively Moderate$755K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.1 events a year
- Cold waveRelatively Low$1.47M/yr expected annual loss, about 3.4 events a year
- Winter weatherRelatively Low$70.75K/yr expected annual loss, about 17 events a year
- LightningRelatively Low$238K/yr expected annual loss, about 31 events a year
- EarthquakeVery Low$223K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,185 years
- Ice stormRelatively Low$50.73K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
- AvalancheVery Low$141/yr expected annual loss, about once every 100 years
- Heat waveVery Low$138K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.5 events a year
- TornadoRelatively Low$480K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 5 years
- WildfireVery Low$6,923/yr expected annual loss, about once every 6,115 years
- HailVery Low$61.42K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.1 events a year
Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: coastal flooding, drought, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.
Flood risk and insurance
National Flood Insurance Program and FEMA flood maps
Check the flood zone for an address
- Homes with flood insurance
- 152 of 31,708 (0.5%)
- Homes in high-risk flood zones
- 802
- Insured in high-risk zones
- 95 (12%)
- Flood claims since 1978
- 221
- Claims paid since 1978
- $4.72M
Flood claims paid per year
- Tropical Storm Ivan$449K · 33 claims
- Tropical Storm Lee$142K · 7 claims
- Flooding$119K · 16 claims
- Hurricane Gloria$19.77K · 5 claims
- Torrential rain$5,419 · 1 claim
- Hurricane Irene$2,758 · 1 claim
Storm history
Since 1996: 505 events, 2 deaths, $111M in damage
- Thunderstorm Wind155 · 1 death
- Heavy Snow87
- Flash Flood58 · 1 death
- Hail49
- Winter Storm44
- High Wind23
- Winter Weather18
- Tornado12
- Flood10
- Cold/Wind Chill7
Events per year
13 tornadoes on record (EF0 2, EF1 7, EF2 1, F0 1, F1 1, F2 1).
Most damaging storms
Since 1996, ranked by deaths, injuries and damage
- Flash Flood06/27/2006
Countywide, Wayne County
1 death, $50M damage
What happened
Tropical moisture continued to stream northward into northeast Pennsylvania ahead of a frontal system which slowly moved westward into the eastern Great Lakes by Tuesday morning the 27th. This tropical moisture developed a batch of heavy showers and thunderstorms across much of eastern Pennsylvania late Monday evening the 26th to Tuesday morning the 27th. By 8 am Tuesday, another 3 to 5 inches of rain fell across Wayne County which caused major flash flooding. Additional rain fell Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning as the front moved back east and combined with a low pressure system moving up the eastern seaboard. The additional rainfall brought rainfall totals to between 8 and15 inches in the county. This extreme rainfall over a three day period brought catastrophic flash flooding to many locations in Wayne County, the worst flooding this county has ever seen. Numerous small streams and creeks overflowed their banks, flooding homes, businesses, roads, and bridges. A state of emergency was declared for Wayne County on Tuesday. The flooding lasted from Tuesday around 7 am EDT through 3 pm EDT Wednesday the 28th. Hardest hit areas were Scott, Buckingham, Manchester,...
- Flash Flood01/19/1996
Countywide, Wayne County
$17.9M damage
- Flash Flood09/18/2004
Countywide, Wayne County
$15M damage
What happened
Heavy rain with amounts of 5 to 7 inches caused flash flooding. The rain which fell from the 16th to the 18th was due to the remnants of hurricane Ivan. Most creeks and streams went out of their banks. In addition, the Delaware and Lackawaxen Rivers had major flooding. At least 1000 homes were damaged, 10 of which were completely destroyed. The county Emergency Management Agency had damage to their office in the basement of the County Courthouse. Dozens of bridges were closed with 2 bridges destroyed. There were at least 50 roads that were damaged and /or closed due to the flooding.
- Thunderstorm Wind08/16/1997
Lake Ariel, Wayne County
1 death, $45K damage
What happened
Severe thunderstorms continued to plow eastward across northern Pennsylvania and produced more extensive wind damage over southern sections of the county. Many large trees and power lines were toppled in an area from Lake Ariel eastward to the Hawley vicinity. A man was killed while sailing on Lake Wallenpaupack when strong winds capsized his vessel.
- Flood06/27/2006
Hawley, Wayne County
$5M damage
What happened
Major flooding occurred on the Lackawaxen River at Hawley. The Lackawaxen River at Hawley rose above the 11 foot flood stage early in the afternoon on Tuesday the 27th. The Lackawaxen River continued to rise Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning cresting at 18.19 feet at 200 pm EDT Wednesday the 28th. This was the 4th highest stage at Hawley with records going back around 100 years.
- Frost/Freeze04/20/2026
Southern Wayne
$3.75M damage
What happened
Temperatures fell below freezing for multiple nights in April.
Latest storm reports
Newest first
- Lightning07/28/2026
Lake Ariel, Wayne County
$10K damage
- TornadoEF0, 2.32 mi path, 100 yd wide07/21/2026
South Canaan, Wayne County
$5,000 damage
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/19/2026
Sherman, Wayne County
$500 damage
- TornadoEF1, 1.23 mi path, 300 yd wide07/19/2026
Winterdale, Wayne County
$1,000 damage
- Flash Flood07/06/2026
Hamlin, Wayne County
$5,000 damage
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/05/2026
Arlington, Wayne County
$3,000 damage
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/03/2026
Boyds Mills, Wayne County
$1,500 damage
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/03/2026
Tyler Hill, Wayne County
$5,000 damage
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Storms whose track crossed Wayne County, with the wind when it passed
- Unnamed storm (1949)08/23/1949 · Landfall: FL · 954 mbTropical storm58 mph nearby
- Unnamed storm (1929)09/19/1929 · Landfall: FL · 924 mbTropical storm58 mph nearby
- Unnamed storm (1878)10/18/1878 · Landfall: NC · 963 mbCategory 192 mph nearby
Drinking water
40 community water systems serve about 24,238 people. Violations since 2021.
14 systems had health-based violations, such as a contaminant over the legal limit or a missed treatment step. 10 systems had a violation of any kind still open at last report.
- Aqua PA Water Co HonesdaleServes 5,500 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+6 monitoring or reporting
- Roamingwood Sewer and WaterServes 3,775 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+7 monitoring or reporting
- Aqua PA Water Co Sci WaymartServes 3,200 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
- Wallenpaupack Lake EstatesServes 2,200 · Groundwater · Private1 health violation+28 monitoring or reporting
- Aqua PA Water Co HawleyServes 1,800 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
- Aqua PA Water Co WaymartServes 1,100 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
- PA Amer Water Co Indian RocksServes 1,100 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
- Aqua PA Paupackan Lake EstatesServes 800 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+8 monitoring or reporting
Largest systems by population served. Monitoring and reporting violations mean required tests or notices were late or missing, not that the water was unsafe.
Climate
1991-2020 normals at Hawley 1 E, 11 mi from the county center
Summer highs peak around 81°F in Jul and winter lows bottom out near 14°F in Jan. About 45.1 inches of rain falls in a typical year, with 47.1 inches of snow.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 14°F | 3.23 in | 13.0 in |
| Feb | 36°F | 14°F | 2.66 in | 13.2 in |
| Mar | 45°F | 22°F | 3.55 in | 9.4 in |
| Apr | 58°F | 32°F | 3.74 in | 1.1 in |
| May | 69°F | 43°F | 3.63 in | - |
| Jun | 77°F | 53°F | 4.67 in | - |
| Jul | 81°F | 57°F | 4.05 in | - |
| Aug | 79°F | 55°F | 4.09 in | - |
| Sep | 73°F | 48°F | 4.26 in | - |
| Oct | 61°F | 36°F | 4.38 in | - |
| Nov | 49°F | 27°F | 3.24 in | 1.3 in |
| Dec | 38°F | 20°F | 3.63 in | 9.1 in |
| Year | 47°F average | 45.1 in | 47.1 in | |
Pollution sites
0 Superfund sites and 1 toxic release facility in Wayne County
Superfund sites
None in this county.
Toxic release facilities
- US Penitentiary Canaan1,632 lbs released, Waymart
Total: 1,632 lbs in 2024, 57.8 lbs to air.
Superfund sitesToxic release facilitiesEPA inspections and enforcementAir toxics cancer risk9 historic places
Frequently asked questions
- How risky is Wayne County for natural disasters?
- FEMA rates Wayne County relatively low for overall natural hazard risk, with expected losses of $17.2M a year. The highest-rated hazards are hurricane (relatively low), landslide (relatively low), strong wind (relatively moderate).
- What storms are most common in Wayne County?
- Since 1996, NOAA recorded 505 storm events affecting Wayne County, most often thunderstorm wind (155), heavy snow (87), flash flood (58).
- How many tornadoes have hit Wayne County?
- 13 tornadoes have been recorded in Wayne County since 1950.
- How many homes in Wayne County have flood insurance?
- 152 residential flood insurance policies are in force in Wayne County, covering about 0.5% of homes. The program has paid $4.72M on 221 claims here since 1978.
- What is the weather like in Wayne County?
- At Hawley 1 E, average highs reach 81°F in Jul and lows fall to 14°F in Jan, with 45.1 inches of rain a year (1991-2020 normals).
Source: FEMA (National Risk Index, NFIP), NOAA (Storm Events, HURDAT2, Climate Normals), EPA · Last updated 08/01/2026 · Storm counts include events in forecast zones that touch the county. This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.