St. Joseph's Parish Complex · Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Collingdale than in 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Collingdale gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #113 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%), then earthquakes (17%). Flood insurance has paid 40 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 Collingdale’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Collingdale 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
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 Collingdale’s grade
River and rain flooding is 66% of the building damage FEMA expects in Collingdale, and Collingdale’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 89% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 17% (higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #113 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Collingdale’s residents live in 3 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, Collingdale has less expected damage per building than 89% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Collingdale: $803K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Collingdale flood? Sometimes: 40 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Collingdale, from FEMA’s records: 10.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd4 claims · $94K
- Hurricane Irene3 claims · $82K
- Hurricane Isaias2 claims · $114K
Collingdale isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Delaware County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Collingdale
Disasters that paid out in Collingdale itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Collingdale), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida138 households applied for aid$266K aid approved
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee19 households applied for aid$24K aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene102 households applied for aid$57K aid approved3 flood claims paid for it, $82K
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$7K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
Delaware County has had 19 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Collingdale after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Collingdale archive →Collingdale and its neighbors
Collingdale has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collingdale | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
| Aldan | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Sharon Hill | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Darby | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 338 |
| Darby Township | — | not graded yet | |
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 Collingdale 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.
- 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 Collingdale
Is Collingdale at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Collingdale has lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #113 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (66%) and earthquakes (17%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Collingdale flood?
Flood insurance has paid 40 claims in Collingdale since 1979, $937K in all, or 10.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (4).
Is Collingdale 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 Delaware County, 39% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Collingdale?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Collingdale’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 Collingdale?
By FEMA money that reached Collingdale, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 138 households applied for aid, $266K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 4 paid, $94K.
Is Collingdale at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (66%), and Collingdale’s rate for it is lower than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Collingdale.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Collingdale’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.