Martin-Little House · Photo: Smallbones · CC0On FEMA’s figures, Charlestown Township faces less hazard damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Charlestown Township gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, #120 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%). Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 1989.
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 Charlestown 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
Hurricanes
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 Charlestown Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Charlestown Township, and Charlestown Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 79% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #120 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Charlestown Township’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, Charlestown Township has less expected damage per building than 89% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Charlestown Township: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Charlestown Township flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1989
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Charlestown Township, from FEMA’s records: 3.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene2 claims · $10K
- Hurricane Isaias1 claim · $5K
- Hurricane Floyd1 claim · $3K
Charlestown 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 Charlestown Township remembers
None of the 21 disasters declared for Chester County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Charlestown Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20112 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storm Lee, declared for Chester County
- 19891 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19991 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations, 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 Charlestown Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Charlestown Township archive →Charlestown Township and its neighbors
Charlestown Township is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Whiteland Township | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Uwchlan Township | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Charlestown Township | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Schuylkill Township | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| West Pikeland Township | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
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 Charlestown 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.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- 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 Charlestown Township
Is Charlestown Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Charlestown Township has lower expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #120 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and hurricanes (7%). 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 Charlestown Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Charlestown Township since 1989, $38K in all, or 3.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (2).
Is Charlestown 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 Charlestown Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Charlestown 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 Charlestown Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 2 paid, $10K.
Is Charlestown Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Charlestown Township’s rate for it is lower than 79% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Charlestown Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Charlestown 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.