On FEMA’s figures, Conestoga Township faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Conestoga Township gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #800 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%), then hurricanes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 55 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 Conestoga Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Conestoga 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
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 Conestoga Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Conestoga Township, and Conestoga Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 13% (higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #800 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Conestoga 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, Conestoga Township has more expected damage per building than 77% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Conestoga Township: $844K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Conestoga Township flood? Sometimes: 55 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Conestoga Township, from FEMA’s records: 33.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd4 claims · $22K
- Tropical Storm Lee3 claims · $66K
Conestoga 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: Lancaster County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Conestoga Township
Disasters that paid out in Conestoga Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Conestoga Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee14 households applied for aid$57K aid approved3 flood claims paid for it, $66K
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides3 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
Lancaster County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Conestoga Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Conestoga Township archive →Conestoga Township and its neighbors
Conestoga Township is 6th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chanceford Township | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Lower Chanceford Township | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Martic Township | B−less damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
| Manor Township | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 133 |
| Pequea Township | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Conestoga Township | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 55 |
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 Conestoga 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.
- 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 Conestoga Township
Is Conestoga Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Conestoga Township has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #800 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and hurricanes (13%). 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 Conestoga Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 55 claims in Conestoga Township since 1978, $462K in all, or 33.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (4).
Is Conestoga 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 Lancaster County, 27% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Conestoga Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Conestoga 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 Conestoga Township?
By FEMA money that reached Conestoga Township, Tropical Storm Lee (2011): 14 households applied for aid, $57K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 4 paid, $22K.
Is Conestoga Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Conestoga Township’s rate for it is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Conestoga Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Conestoga 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.