Photo: Nyttend · Public domainLess hazard damage per building is expected in Baden than in 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Baden gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #252 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Baden 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 Baden’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Baden, and Baden’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
A #252 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Baden’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Pennsylvania town has lower expected damage than 71% of U.S. towns; within the state, Baden has less expected damage per building than 76% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $492K a year in losses across Baden: $429K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Baden flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Baden. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Baden isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Beaver County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Baden
Disasters that paid out in Baden itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Baden), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan23 households applied for aid$67K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding Associated with Tropical Depression Frances3 households applied for aid$15K aid approved
Beaver County has had 12 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 Baden after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Baden archive →Baden and its neighbors
Baden is 3rd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harmony Township | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 51 |
| Hopewell Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 68 |
| Baden | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Aliquippa | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 37 |
| Economy | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
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 Baden 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 Baden
Is Baden at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Baden has lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #252 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Baden 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 Beaver County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Baden?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Baden’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 Baden?
By FEMA money that reached Baden, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 23 households applied for aid, $67K approved.
Is Baden at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Baden’s rate for it is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Baden.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Baden’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.