Stanley · Photo: Hshuvaeva · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Abington Township faces less hazard damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Abington Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #229 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%). Flood insurance has paid 295 claims here since 1979.
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 stands out about Abington Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Abington Township 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
Earthquakes
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
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 Abington Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Abington Township, and Abington Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 9% (higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts).
A #229 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Abington Township’s residents live in 15 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Pennsylvania town has lower expected damage than 71% of U.S. towns; within the state, Abington Township has less expected damage per building than 78% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $15.5M a year in losses across Abington Township: $8.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Abington Township flood? Yes: 295 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Abington Township, from FEMA’s records: 12.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Allison66 claims · $1.6M
- Tropical Storm Lee17 claims · $197K
- Hurricane Floyd16 claims · $109K
Abington Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Montgomery County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Abington Township
Disasters that paid out in Abington Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Abington Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida137 households applied for aid$286K aid approved11 flood claims paid for it, $142K
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee28 households applied for aid$34K aid approved17 flood claims paid for it, $197K
- 2011Hurricane Irene83 households applied for aid$147K aid approved14 flood claims paid for it, $89K
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides4 households applied for aid$9K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan6 households applied for aid$13K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding8 households applied for aid$8K aid approved
Montgomery County has had 23 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Abington Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Abington Township archive →Abington Township and its neighbors
Abington Township is 3rd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockledge | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Jenkintown | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Abington Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 295 |
| Upper Dublin Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 180 |
| Lower Moreland Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 173 |
| Cheltenham Township | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 291 |
| Philadelphia | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 1,177 |
| Glenside | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Wyncote | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Oreland | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| McKinley | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Abington Township 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 Abington Township
Is Abington Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Abington Township has lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #229 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and earthquakes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Abington Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 295 claims in Abington Township since 1979, $4.5M in all, or 12.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 52 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Allison (66).
Is Abington Township 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 Montgomery County, 47% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Abington Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Abington Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Abington Township?
By FEMA money that reached Abington Township, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 137 households applied for aid, $286K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Allison: 66 paid, $1.6M.
Is Abington Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Abington Township’s rate for it is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Abington Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Abington Township’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.