Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA puts Cowanshannock Township’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cowanshannock Township gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #906 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2004.
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 Cowanshannock 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
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 Cowanshannock Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cowanshannock Township, and Cowanshannock Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
C #906 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Cowanshannock 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, Cowanshannock Township has more expected damage per building than 87% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $899K a year in losses across Cowanshannock Township: $848K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cowanshannock Township flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2004
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cowanshannock Township, from FEMA’s records: 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan1 claim · $1K
Cowanshannock 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: Armstrong County.The storms Cowanshannock Township remembers
None of the 14 disasters declared for Armstrong County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Cowanshannock Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20041 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Armstrong County
Armstrong County has had 14 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Cowanshannock Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cowanshannock Township archive →Cowanshannock Township and its neighbors
Cowanshannock Township is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Mahoning Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Plumcreek Township | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Kittanning Township | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Cowanshannock Township | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Wayne Township | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 72 |
| Washington Township | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
| Atwood | — | 160 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Valley Township | — | 634 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Cowanshannock 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.
- 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 Cowanshannock Township
Is Cowanshannock Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cowanshannock Township has higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #906 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). 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 Cowanshannock Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Cowanshannock Township since 2004, $1K in all, or 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (1).
Is Cowanshannock 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 Armstrong County, 9% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cowanshannock Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cowanshannock 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 Cowanshannock Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 1 paid, $1K.
Is Cowanshannock Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Cowanshannock Township’s rate for it is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cowanshannock Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cowanshannock 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.