Photo: Eric Lewis · CC BY-SA 2.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Caln Township than in 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Caln Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #644 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 28 claims here since 1987.
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 Caln Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Caln 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 Caln Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Caln Township, and Caln Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
B #644 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Caln 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, Caln Township has more expected damage per building than 62% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.7M a year in losses across Caln Township: $3.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Caln Township flood? Sometimes: 28 flood claims since 1987
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Caln Township, from FEMA’s records: 4.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida6 claims · $265K
- The Mid-spring storms2 claims · $15K
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $3K
Caln 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 Caln Township remembers
None of the 21 disasters declared for Chester County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Caln Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20219 flood claims paidThe year of Remnants of Hurricane Ida, declared for Chester County
- 20034 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storms Henri and Isabel and Related Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Chester County
- 20063 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides, declared for Chester County
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 Caln Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Caln Township archive →Caln Township and its neighbors
Caln Township is 7th of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Fallowfield Township | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| West Bradford Township | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| West Brandywine Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| East Caln Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| East Brandywine Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Valley Township | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Caln Township | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 28 |
| Coatesville | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Downingtown | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 336 |
| Thorndale | — | 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 Caln 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 Caln Township
Is Caln Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Caln Township has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #644 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Caln Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 28 claims in Caln Township since 1987, $480K in all, or 4.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (6).
Is Caln 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 Caln Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Caln 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 Caln Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 6 paid, $265K.
Is Caln Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Caln Township’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Caln Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Caln 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.