Photo: Smallbones · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Bristol faces more hazard damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bristol gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, #986 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). Flood insurance has paid 49 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 Bristol’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bristol 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
Coastal flooding
Earthquakes
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 Bristol’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bristol, and Bristol’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 6%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #986 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bristol’s residents live in 3 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, Bristol has more expected damage per building than 95% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.6M a year in losses across Bristol: $4.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bristol flood? Sometimes: 49 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bristol, from FEMA’s records: 11.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd10 claims · $1.8M
- Hurricane Irene8 claims · $1.1M
- Hurricane Ida2 claims · $11K
Bristol 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.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bristol
Disasters that paid out in Bristol itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Bristol), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida144 households applied for aid$150K aid approved2 flood claims paid for it, $11K
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee32 households applied for aid$63K aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene191 households applied for aid$328K aid approved8 flood claims paid for it, $1.1M
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan2 households applied for aid$18K aid approved2 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 Bristol after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bristol archive →Bristol and its neighbors
Bristol is 3rd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 292 |
| Burlington Township | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Bristol | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 49 |
| Burlington | D−more damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 161 |
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 Bristol 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Bristol
Is Bristol at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bristol has higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #986 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and coastal flooding (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bristol flood?
Flood insurance has paid 49 claims in Bristol since 1978, $5.0M in all, or 11.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (10).
Is Bristol 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 Bristol?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bristol’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 Bristol?
By FEMA money that reached Bristol, Hurricane Irene (2011): 191 households applied for aid, $328K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 10 paid, $1.8M.
Is Bristol at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Bristol’s rate for it is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bristol.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bristol’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.