Photo: Jack Boucher · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Bensalem Township faces less hazard damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bensalem Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #474 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%). Flood insurance has paid 265 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 Bensalem Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bensalem 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
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 Bensalem Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bensalem Township, and Bensalem Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 3%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #474 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bensalem Township’s residents live in 13 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, Bensalem Township has less expected damage per building than 54% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $16.5M a year in losses across Bensalem Township: $12.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bensalem Township flood? Yes: 265 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bensalem Township, from FEMA’s records: 10.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd41 claims · $1.3M
- Hurricane Irene25 claims · $1.0M
- Hurricane Ida14 claims · $715K
Bensalem 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: Bucks County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bensalem Township
Disasters that paid out in Bensalem Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Bensalem Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida275 households applied for aid$291K aid approved14 flood claims paid for it, $715K
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee38 households applied for aid$107K aid approved4 flood claims paid for it, $58K
- 2011Hurricane Irene148 households applied for aid$265K aid approved25 flood claims paid for it, $1.0M
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides2 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan9 households applied for aid$28K aid approved7 flood claims paid that year
Bucks County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Bensalem Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bensalem Township archive →Bensalem Township and its neighbors
Bensalem 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Southampton Township | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 133 |
| Middletown Township | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 273 |
| Bensalem Township | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 265 |
| Philadelphia | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 1,177 |
| Bristol Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 292 |
| Delanco Township | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Beverly | Dmore damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Andalusia | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Croydon | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Hulmeville | — | 925 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Trevose | — | 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 Bensalem 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.
- 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 Bensalem Township
Is Bensalem Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bensalem Township has lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #474 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and earthquakes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bensalem Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 265 claims in Bensalem Township since 1978, $5.9M in all, or 10.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 39 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (41).
Is Bensalem 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 Bucks County, 49% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bensalem Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bensalem 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 Bensalem Township?
By FEMA money that reached Bensalem Township, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 275 households applied for aid, $291K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 41 paid, $1.3M.
Is Bensalem Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Bensalem Township’s rate for it is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bensalem Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bensalem 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.