Homeowners Insurance & Natural Hazard Costs in Wilkes-Barre
Wilkes-Barre carries a real, historic, and severe flood-risk legacy from the 1972 Hurricane Agnes flood, alongside comparatively affordable Pennsylvania-wide homeowners-insurance costs.
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Learn moreA real, catastrophic historic flood
The Susquehanna River levee was topped at 38.5 feet on June 23, 1972, breaching a dike and forcing a real, 4-day evacuation of the entire city -- flood elevations were the highest ever recorded at the time.
Confirm flood insurance separately
Standard homeowners insurance typically excludes flood damage -- confirm current FEMA flood-zone status and flood-insurance requirements directly for any property near the Susquehanna River, given this real, documented historic risk.
Genuinely affordable Pennsylvania-wide homeowners insurance
Pennsylvania statewide average annual premiums ran approximately $851-$1,893/year across sources, with one source citing PA as running approximately 28% below the national average.
Key takeaways
- The real, historic 1972 Hurricane Agnes flood forced a 4-day evacuation of the entire city -- a genuine, documented hazard.
- Confirm flood insurance separately for any property near the Susquehanna River; standard policies typically exclude flood damage.
- General Pennsylvania homeowners-insurance premiums run comparatively affordable.
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