Photo: Photo by and (c)2006 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) · CC BY-SA 2.5On FEMA’s figures, Aston Township faces less hazard damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Aston Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #243 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%). Flood insurance has paid 35 claims here since 1978.
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 Aston Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Aston 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 Aston Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Aston Township, and Aston Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 7% (higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts).
A #243 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Aston Township’s residents live in 3 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, Aston Township has less expected damage per building than 77% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.0M a year in losses across Aston Township: $2.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Aston Township flood? Sometimes: 35 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Aston Township, from FEMA’s records: 5.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd7 claims · $518K
- Hurricane Isaias5 claims · $176K
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $15K
Aston 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: Delaware County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Aston Township
Disasters that paid out in Aston Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Aston Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida76 households applied for aid$12K aid approved
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee2 households applied for aid$2K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $79K
- 2011Hurricane Irene30 households applied for aid$21K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $15K
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan2 households applied for aid$183 aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$645 aid approved
Delaware County has had 19 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Aston Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Aston Township archive →Aston Township and its neighbors
Aston Township is 4th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel Township | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Concord Township | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Middletown Township | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
| Aston Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
| Upper Chichester Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Chester Heights | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Brookhaven | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 53 |
| Chester Township | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 140 |
| Village Green-Green Ridge | — | 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 Aston 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 Aston Township
Is Aston Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Aston Township has lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #243 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and earthquakes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Aston Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 35 claims in Aston Township since 1978, $1.5M in all, or 5.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (7).
Is Aston 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 Delaware County, 39% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Aston Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Aston 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 Aston Township?
By FEMA money that reached Aston Township, Hurricane Irene (2011): 30 households applied for aid, $21K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 7 paid, $518K.
Is Aston Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Aston Township’s rate for it is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Aston Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Aston 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.