How Likely Is a Tornado in Snyder County, PA?
Snyder County, PA: what NOAA's tornado record says
Snyder County has recorded 10 tornado touches in NOAA's 76-year database, a rate of roughly one every 7.6 years - our Low band. Put another way: Snyder County sees more tornado activity than 29% of US counties. Pennsylvania has 67 counties in this dataset; Snyder County ranks 49 of them by frequency.
Beyond the frequency band: violent history
8 weak and 2 significant tornadoes make up Snyder County's 10-track record - none violent. NOAA has never logged an EF4 or EF5 crossing this county.
The dollar figure Snyder 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
A direct hit is not required for Snyder County to lose power - outbreak-wide outages across Pennsylvania regularly reach homes and businesses well outside the actual tracks. A battery bank covers that gap without a generator's fuel and venting needs.
What this number is, and is not
One caveat before relying on Snyder County's number: it is county-wide, and it covers about 329 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. Snyder County has about 39,627 residents.