FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Copeland than in 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Copeland gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2019.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Copeland faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Ice storms
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Copeland’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Copeland, and Copeland’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 6%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Copeland’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Copeland: $1.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Copeland flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2019
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Copeland, from FEMA’s records: 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Copeland isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Delaware County.The storms Copeland remembers
None of the 26 disasters declared for Delaware County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Copeland itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20191 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared for Delaware County
Delaware County has had 26 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Copeland after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Copeland archive →Copeland and its neighbors
Copeland is 2nd of the 2 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grove | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Copeland | Dmore damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Copeland faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Ice brings down trees and lines: plan for days without power.
- Run a generator outside, far from doors and windows.
- Keep sand or salt by the door.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Copeland
Is Copeland at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Copeland has higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and ice storms (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Copeland flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Copeland since 2019, $10K in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Copeland in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Delaware County, 9% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Copeland?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Copeland’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Copeland at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Copeland’s rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Copeland.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Copeland’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.