Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Bridgeville as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bridgeville gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #709 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). Flood insurance has paid 192 claims here since 1980.
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 Bridgeville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bridgeville 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 Bridgeville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 97% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bridgeville, and Bridgeville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #709 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bridgeville’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, Bridgeville has more expected damage per building than 68% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Bridgeville: $963K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bridgeville flood? Yes: 192 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bridgeville, from FEMA’s records: 69.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan33 claims · $695K
- Hurricane Ida5 claims · $48K
Bridgeville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Allegheny County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Bridgeville
Disasters that paid out in Bridgeville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Bridgeville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan174 households applied for aid$670K aid approved33 flood claims paid for it, $695K
Allegheny County has had 15 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 Bridgeville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bridgeville archive →Bridgeville and its neighbors
Bridgeville is 5th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper St. Clair Township | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Scott Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 218 |
| South Fayette Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 64 |
| Collier Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Bridgeville | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 192 |
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 Bridgeville 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 Bridgeville
Is Bridgeville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bridgeville has lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #709 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bridgeville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 192 claims in Bridgeville since 1980, $4.3M in all, or 69.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 33 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (33).
Is Bridgeville 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 Allegheny County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bridgeville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bridgeville’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 Bridgeville?
By FEMA money that reached Bridgeville, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 174 households applied for aid, $670K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 33 paid, $695K.
Is Bridgeville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (97%), and Bridgeville’s rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bridgeville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bridgeville’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.