Photo: Shuvaev · CC BY-SA 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Cheltenham Township than in 78% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cheltenham Township gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns, #416 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 291 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 Cheltenham Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Cheltenham 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
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 Cheltenham Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cheltenham Township, and Cheltenham Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 10% (higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #416 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cheltenham Township’s residents live in 10 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, Cheltenham Township has less expected damage per building than 60% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.1M a year in losses across Cheltenham Township: $7.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cheltenham Township flood? Yes: 291 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cheltenham Township, from FEMA’s records: 18.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee55 claims · $961K
- Tropical Storm Allison38 claims · $1.4M
- Hurricane Irene31 claims · $369K
Cheltenham 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: Montgomery County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Cheltenham Township
Disasters that paid out in Cheltenham Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Cheltenham Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida119 households applied for aid$202K aid approved3 flood claims paid for it, $66K
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee8 households applied for aid$10K aid approved55 flood claims paid for it, $961K
- 2011Hurricane Irene65 households applied for aid$89K aid approved31 flood claims paid for it, $369K
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan3 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
Montgomery County has had 23 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Cheltenham Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cheltenham Township archive →Cheltenham Township and its neighbors
Cheltenham Township is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jenkintown | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Abington Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 295 |
| Springfield Township | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 140 |
| Cheltenham Township | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 291 |
| Philadelphia | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 1,177 |
| Wyncote | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Glenside | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Cheltenham Village | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Elkins Park | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| McKinley | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Wyndmoor | — | 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 Cheltenham 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.
- 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 Cheltenham Township
Is Cheltenham Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cheltenham Township has lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #416 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and earthquakes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cheltenham Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 291 claims in Cheltenham Township since 1978, $6.1M in all, or 18.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 47 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (55).
Is Cheltenham 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 Montgomery County, 47% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cheltenham Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cheltenham 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 Cheltenham Township?
By FEMA money that reached Cheltenham Township, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 119 households applied for aid, $202K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 55 paid, $961K.
Is Cheltenham Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Cheltenham Township’s rate for it is lower than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cheltenham Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cheltenham 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.