Natural Disaster Risk in Brownsville

Natural Hazard Profile: Brownsville, Pennsylvania

Brownsville is a town of roughly 7,363 residents in Washington County, in the interior eastern United States. The area experiences cold winters, warm summers, and four distinct seasons, with nor'easter exposure and spring river flooding shaping the pattern of natural hazards that residents encounter. Understanding the local risk profile is essential for anyone living in, moving to, or owning property in Brownsville.

FEMA rates Brownsville's composite natural disaster risk at 6.0 out of 10 — high risk. The area faces significant landslide risk, where mountainous topography and saturated soils during wet periods combine to create hazardous mass movement conditions. Residents should also account for lightning and hail risk in their preparedness planning.

Brownsville's risk score, near the 5.9/10 state average and above the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. Of the 18 hazard categories tracked by FEMA for Washington County, the highest-scoring are landslide, lightning, and hail. These scores reflect county-level data and represent the baseline risk that all communities in the county share.

With a high natural disaster risk rating, Brownsville residents benefit from taking preparedness seriously. Reviewing insurance coverage for landslide and secondary hazards, registering for emergency alerts, and maintaining a household emergency kit are practical steps that can significantly reduce impact during a major event.