Photo: Smallbones at English Wikipedia · Public domainFEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Birmingham Township than in 77% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Birmingham Township gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, #439 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 10 claims here since 1979.
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 Birmingham 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 Birmingham Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Birmingham Township, and Birmingham Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #439 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Birmingham 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, Birmingham Township has less expected damage per building than 58% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Birmingham Township: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Birmingham Township flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Birmingham Township, from FEMA’s records: 6.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida3 claims · $576K
- Hurricane Floyd1 claim · $61K
- Hurricane Isaias1 claim · $47K
Birmingham 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: Chester County.The storms Birmingham Township remembers
None of the 21 disasters declared for Chester County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Birmingham Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20213 flood claims paidThe year of Remnants of Hurricane Ida, declared for Chester County
- 19992 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations, declared for Chester County
- 20072 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Chester County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Birmingham Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Birmingham Township archive →Birmingham Township and its neighbors
Birmingham Township is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chadds Ford Township | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 75 |
| Westtown Township | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Pennsbury Township | A−less damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Thornbury Township | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Birmingham Township | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| East Bradford Township | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 126 |
| Pocopson Township | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 121 |
| Dilworthtown | — | 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 Birmingham 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 Birmingham Township
Is Birmingham Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Birmingham Township has lower expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #439 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). 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 Birmingham Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in Birmingham Township since 1979, $721K in all, or 6.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (3).
Is Birmingham 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 Chester County, 40% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Birmingham Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Birmingham 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 Birmingham Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 3 paid, $576K.
Is Birmingham Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Birmingham Township’s rate for it is lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Birmingham Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Birmingham 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.