Photo: Photo by and (c)2007 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) · CC BY-SA 2.5FEMA puts Brecknock Township’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brecknock Township gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #882 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 10 claims here since 1984.
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 Brecknock 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 Brecknock Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Brecknock Township, and Brecknock Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #882 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Brecknock 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, Brecknock Township has more expected damage per building than 85% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.8M a year in losses across Brecknock Township: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Brecknock Township flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Brecknock Township, from FEMA’s records: 3.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 53% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida3 claims · $40K
Brecknock 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: Lancaster County.The storms Brecknock Township remembers
None of the 18 disasters declared for Lancaster County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Brecknock Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20213 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19962 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Lancaster County
- 20042 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Lancaster County
Lancaster County has had 18 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 Brecknock Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Brecknock Township archive →Brecknock Township and its neighbors
Brecknock Township is 8th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Township | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
| Brecknock Township | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| East Earl Township | A−less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Earl Township | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| East Cocalico Township | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Adamstown | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Caernarvon Township | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Brecknock Township | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Swartzville | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Fivepointville | — | 904 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 Brecknock 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 Brecknock Township
Is Brecknock Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brecknock Township has higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #882 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (10%). 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 Brecknock Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in Brecknock Township since 1984, $120K in all, or 3.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 53% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (3).
Is Brecknock 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 Lancaster County, 27% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Brecknock Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Brecknock 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 Brecknock Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 3 paid, $40K.
Is Brecknock Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Brecknock Township’s rate for it is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Brecknock Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Brecknock 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.