Photo: Dough4872 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Coatesville than in 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Coatesville gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #895 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 17 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 Coatesville 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 Coatesville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Coatesville, and Coatesville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts.
C #895 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Coatesville’s residents live in 4 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, Coatesville has more expected damage per building than 86% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.4M a year in losses across Coatesville: $2.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Coatesville flood? Sometimes: 17 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Coatesville, 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 Ida2 claims · $50K
- Hurricane Floyd2 claims · $3K
- Hurricane Debby1 claim · $18K
Coatesville 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.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Coatesville
Disasters that paid out in Coatesville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Coatesville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida578 households applied for aid$954K aid approved2 flood claims paid for it, $50K
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee27 households applied for aid$33K aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene97 households applied for aid$43K aid approved
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides13 households applied for aid$16K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2003Tropical Storms Henri and Isabel and Related Severe Storms and Flooding35 households applied for aid$82K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
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 Coatesville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Coatesville archive →Coatesville and its neighbors
Coatesville is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Township | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Caln Township | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 28 |
| South Coatesville | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Coatesville | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Hayti | — | 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 Coatesville 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 Coatesville
Is Coatesville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Coatesville has higher expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #895 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Coatesville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 17 claims in Coatesville since 1979, $146K in all, or 3.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (2).
Is Coatesville 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 Coatesville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Coatesville’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 Coatesville?
By FEMA money that reached Coatesville, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 578 households applied for aid, $954K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 2 paid, $50K.
Is Coatesville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Coatesville’s rate for it is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Coatesville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Coatesville’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.