Photo: Photo by User:AudeVivere. · CC BY-SA 2.5On FEMA’s figures, Bedford Township faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bedford Township gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #775 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 427 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 Bedford Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bedford 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
Hurricanes
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 Bedford Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bedford Township, and Bedford Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #775 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Bedford Township’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, Bedford Township has more expected damage per building than 75% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.8M a year in losses across Bedford Township: $2.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bedford Township flood? Yes: 427 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bedford Township, from FEMA’s records: 154.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida13 claims · $353K
- Tropical Storm Ivan5 claims · $57K
- Hurricane Sandy2 claims · $17K
Bedford 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: Bedford County.The storms Bedford Township remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Bedford County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Bedford Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 1996109 flood claims paidThe year of Flooding, Severe Storms, declared for Bedford County
- 1983107 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 199370 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Snowfall and Winter Storm, declared for Bedford County
Bedford County has had 16 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Bedford Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bedford Township archive →Bedford Township and its neighbors
Bedford Township has the lowest expected damage per building of the 7 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Township | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 427 |
| Napier Township | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| East St. Clair Township | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 175 |
| Snake Spring Township | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 133 |
| Colerain Township | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Cumberland Valley Township | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| South Woodbury Township | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Harrison Township | — | 977 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 Bedford 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.
- 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.
- 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 Bedford Township
Is Bedford Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bedford Township has higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #775 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) and hurricanes (7%). 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.
Does Bedford Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 427 claims in Bedford Township since 1978, $5.0M in all, or 154.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 46 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (13).
Is Bedford 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 Bedford County, 12% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bedford Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bedford 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 Bedford Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 13 paid, $353K.
Is Bedford Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Bedford Township’s rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bedford Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bedford 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.