Photo: David Fulmer from Pittsburgh Uploaded by scillystuff · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Buffalo Township than in 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Buffalo Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #520 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 57 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 stands out about Buffalo Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Buffalo 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 Buffalo Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Buffalo Township, and Buffalo Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #520 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Buffalo Township’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, Buffalo Township has more expected damage per building than 50% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Buffalo Township: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Buffalo Township flood? Sometimes: 57 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Buffalo Township, from FEMA’s records: 17.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan15 claims · $159K
- Tropical Storm Lee6 claims · $111K
- Hurricane Debby2 claims · $52K
Buffalo 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: Butler County.The storms Buffalo Township remembers
None of the 8 disasters declared for Butler County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Buffalo Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 200415 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Butler County
- 19798 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19998 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Butler County has had 8 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Buffalo Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Buffalo Township archive →Buffalo Township and its neighbors
Buffalo Township is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 46 |
| Allegheny Township | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Winfield Township | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Buffalo Township | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 57 |
| South Buffalo Township | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 51 |
| Harrison Township | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 28 |
| Fawn Township | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 82 |
| Freeport | D−more damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
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 Buffalo 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 Buffalo Township
Is Buffalo Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Buffalo Township has lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #520 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Buffalo Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 57 claims in Buffalo Township since 1979, $748K in all, or 17.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (15).
Is Buffalo 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 Butler County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Buffalo Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Buffalo 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 Buffalo Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 15 paid, $159K.
Is Buffalo Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Buffalo Township’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Buffalo Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Buffalo 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.