Perikomen Bridge Hotel · Photo: Smallbones · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Collegeville than in 79% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Collegeville gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns, #409 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 135 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 stands out about Collegeville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Collegeville 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 Collegeville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Collegeville, and Collegeville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 7% (higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #409 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Collegeville’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, Collegeville has less expected damage per building than 61% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Collegeville: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Collegeville flood? Yes: 135 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Collegeville, from FEMA’s records: 81.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd16 claims · $219K
- Hurricane Ida13 claims · $1.5M
Collegeville 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 Collegeville
Disasters that paid out in Collegeville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Collegeville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida274 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved13 flood claims paid for it, $1.5M
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee5 households applied for aid$476 aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene64 households applied for aid$217K aid approved10 flood claims paid for it, $732K
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides4 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan4 households applied for aid$6K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
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 Collegeville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Collegeville archive →Collegeville and its neighbors
Collegeville 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trappe | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Lower Providence Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 171 |
| Collegeville | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 135 |
| Perkiomen Township | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 104 |
| Upper Providence Township | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 418 |
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 Collegeville 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 Collegeville
Is Collegeville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Collegeville has lower expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #409 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and earthquakes (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 Collegeville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 135 claims in Collegeville since 1979, $4.0M in all, or 81.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 19 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (16).
Is Collegeville 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 Collegeville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Collegeville’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 Collegeville?
By FEMA money that reached Collegeville, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 274 households applied for aid, $1.3M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 16 paid, $219K.
Is Collegeville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Collegeville’s rate for it is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Collegeville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Collegeville’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.