Natural Disaster Risk in Fishertown

Natural Hazard Profile: Fishertown, Pennsylvania

Fishertown, in Bedford County, is a small unincorporated community situated in the interior eastern United States. Its humid continental climate brings cold winters, warm summers, and four distinct seasons, and in particular nor'easter exposure and spring river flooding. These conditions collectively define the natural hazard environment that Fishertown residents and property owners must navigate.

Fishertown's overall natural disaster risk is rated 5.1/10 (Moderate) by FEMA's National Risk Index. The area faces significant landslide risk, where mountainous topography and saturated soils during wet periods combine to create hazardous mass movement conditions. Secondary hazards include avalanche and hurricane.

Within Pennsylvania, Fishertown's risk is, slightly below the 5.9/10 state average. Nationally, it ranks above the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. FEMA's analysis of Bedford County identifies landslide as the foremost hazard, followed by avalanche and hurricane. These rankings reflect the relative frequency and severity of each hazard type in the local environment.

Fishertown's moderate risk profile means that while catastrophic events are less frequent, they do occur. Standard homeowners insurance typically covers many common hazards here, but confirming that landslide exposure is adequately protected is a worthwhile step for property owners.