How Likely Is a Tornado in Mifflin County, PA?
Mifflin County, PA: what NOAA's tornado record says
Mifflin County has recorded 5 tornado touches in NOAA's 76-year database, a rate of roughly one every 15.2 years - our Minimal band. Put another way: Mifflin County sees more tornado activity than 17% of US counties. Among 67 Pennsylvania counties in this dataset, Mifflin County ranks 62 for how often a tornado touches down.
Beyond the frequency band: violent history
3 weak and 2 significant tornadoes make up Mifflin County's 5-track record - none violent. NOAA has never logged an EF4 or EF5 crossing this county.
The dollar figure Mifflin County's rating leads to
Cost nationally: $2,890-$13,280, about $7,645 typical. Pennsylvania has no state rebate program confirmed here; FEMA's underlying 75% cost-share exists nationwide, but applying through a state program is what usually makes it real, and none was found for Pennsylvania this pass.
What a direct hit isn't required for
Power loss after a tornado outbreak in Pennsylvania often reaches homes the storm itself never touched. A battery-backup unit covers the outage without the fuel and venting a generator needs.
What this number is, and is not
One caveat before relying on Mifflin County's number: it is county-wide, and it covers about 411 square miles, so a single touch counts the same as one in a county a fraction of that size. Weaker pre-1990s tornadoes are also documented as undercounted in NOAA's own record. Mifflin County has about 45,935 residents.