Photo: User:MikeParker, Michael H. Parker · CC BY 2.5FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Chalfont as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chalfont gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #835 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 10 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 Chalfont 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 Chalfont’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Chalfont, and Chalfont’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #835 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Chalfont’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, Chalfont has more expected damage per building than 81% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Chalfont: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Chalfont flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Chalfont, from FEMA’s records: 5.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida7 claims · $72K
- Hurricane Isaias1 claim · $2K
Chalfont 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.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Chalfont
Disasters that paid out in Chalfont itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Chalfont), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida110 households applied for aid$233K aid approved7 flood claims paid for it, $72K
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee7 households applied for aid$11K aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene21 households applied for aid$42K aid approved
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides3 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan2 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
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 Chalfont after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Chalfont archive →Chalfont and its neighbors
Chalfont is 2nd of the 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Britain Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Chalfont | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Brittany Farms-The Highlands | — | 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 Chalfont 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 Chalfont
Is Chalfont at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Chalfont has higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #835 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). 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 Chalfont flood?
Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in Chalfont since 1979, $78K in all, or 5.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (7).
Is Chalfont 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 Chalfont?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Chalfont’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 Chalfont?
By FEMA money that reached Chalfont, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 110 households applied for aid, $233K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 7 paid, $72K.
Is Chalfont at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Chalfont’s rate for it is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Chalfont.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Chalfont’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.