Photo: Hshuvaeva · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Colebrookdale Township than in 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Colebrookdale Township gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, #339 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%), then hurricanes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 12 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 Colebrookdale 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
Tornadoes
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 Colebrookdale Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Colebrookdale Township, and Colebrookdale Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 12% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #339 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Colebrookdale 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, Colebrookdale Township has less expected damage per building than 67% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Colebrookdale Township: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Colebrookdale Township flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Colebrookdale Township, 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 Floyd1 claim · $3K
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $1K
- Hurricane Isaias1 claim · $12K
Colebrookdale 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: Berks County.The storms Colebrookdale Township remembers
None of the 19 disasters declared for Berks County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Colebrookdale Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20193 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19791 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19821 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Berks County has had 19 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 Colebrookdale Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Colebrookdale Township archive →Colebrookdale Township and its neighbors
Colebrookdale Township is 2nd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boyertown | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Colebrookdale Township | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Pike Township | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Douglass Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 47 |
| Earl Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 45 |
| Douglass Township | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Washington Township | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| New Berlinville | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Bechtelsville | — | 914 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Gilbertsville | — | 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 Colebrookdale 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 Colebrookdale Township
Is Colebrookdale Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Colebrookdale Township has lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #339 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and hurricanes (12%). 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 Colebrookdale Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Colebrookdale Township since 1979, $42K in all, or 5.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (1).
Is Colebrookdale 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 Berks County, 34% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Colebrookdale Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Colebrookdale 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 Colebrookdale Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 1 paid, $3K.
Is Colebrookdale Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Colebrookdale Township’s rate for it is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Colebrookdale Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Colebrookdale 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.