Photo: Unknown photographer · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Berwick faces more hazard damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Berwick gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #935 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 24 claims here since 1981.
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 Berwick’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Berwick 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 Berwick’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Berwick, and Berwick’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
C #935 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Berwick’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, Berwick has more expected damage per building than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.9M a year in losses across Berwick: $3.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Berwick flood? Sometimes: 24 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Berwick, from FEMA’s records: 4.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee8 claims · $120K
- The Torrential rain1 claim · $8K
Berwick isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Columbia County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Berwick
Disasters that paid out in Berwick itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Berwick), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee211 households applied for aid$591K aid approved8 flood claims paid for it, $120K
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides56 households applied for aid$77K aid approved6 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$3K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan13 households applied for aid$19K aid approved
Columbia County has had 16 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 Berwick after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Berwick archive →Berwick and its neighbors
Berwick has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berwick | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| Briar Creek Township | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Mifflin Township | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Briar Creek | — | 828 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Foundryville | — | 360 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 Berwick 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 Berwick
Is Berwick at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Berwick has higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #935 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Berwick flood?
Flood insurance has paid 24 claims in Berwick since 1981, $349K in all, or 4.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (8).
Is Berwick 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 Columbia County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Berwick?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Berwick’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 Berwick?
By FEMA money that reached Berwick, Tropical Storm Lee (2011): 211 households applied for aid, $591K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 8 paid, $120K.
Is Berwick at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Berwick’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Berwick.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Berwick’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.