Photo: Doug Kerr · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Athens Township faces more hazard damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Athens Township gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns, #944 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 117 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 Athens Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Athens 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
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 Athens Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Athens Township, and Athens Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #944 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Athens Township’s residents live in 2 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, Athens Township has more expected damage per building than 91% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.5M a year in losses across Athens Township: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Athens Township flood? Yes: 117 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Athens Township, from FEMA’s records: 55.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee31 claims · $2.4M
- Tropical Storm Ivan6 claims · $68K
- The Torrential rain1 claim · $77K
Athens 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: Bradford County.The storms Athens Township remembers
None of the 17 disasters declared for Bradford County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Athens Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 201132 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storm Lee, declared for Bradford County
- 199616 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Bradford County
- 200616 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Bradford County
Bradford County has had 17 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 Athens Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Athens Township archive →Athens Township and its neighbors
Athens Township is 5th of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Waverly | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Sayre | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Ulster Township | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
| Smithfield Township | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Athens Township | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 117 |
| Ridgebury Township | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| Athens | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 72 |
| Sheshequin Township | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 51 |
| Litchfield Township | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Greens Landing | — | 593 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Athens 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.
- 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 Athens Township
Is Athens Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Athens Township has higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #944 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Athens Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 117 claims in Athens Township since 1978, $4.7M in all, or 55.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 20 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (31).
Is Athens 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 Bradford County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Athens Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Athens 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 Athens Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 31 paid, $2.4M.
Is Athens Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Athens Township’s rate for it is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Athens Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Athens 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.