Photo: Doug Kerr (Dougtone) · CC BY-SA 2.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Damascus Township than in 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Damascus Township gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #854 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 52 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 Damascus 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 Damascus Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Damascus Township, and Damascus Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #854 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Damascus 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, Damascus Township has more expected damage per building than 82% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Damascus Township: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Damascus Township flood? Sometimes: 52 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Damascus Township, from FEMA’s records: 21.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan10 claims · $253K
- The Torrential rain1 claim · $5K
- Tropical Storm Lee1 claim · $3K
Damascus 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: Wayne County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Damascus Township
Disasters that paid out in Damascus Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Damascus Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides21 households applied for aid$53K aid approved17 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding15 households applied for aid$34K aid approved12 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan24 households applied for aid$51K aid approved10 flood claims paid for it, $253K
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding5 households applied for aid$3K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
Wayne County has had 21 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 Damascus Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Damascus Township archive →Damascus Township and its neighbors
Damascus Township 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cochecton | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Berlin Township | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Damascus Township | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 52 |
| Delaware | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 42 |
| Tusten | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
| Narrowsburg | — | 482 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Oregon Township | — | 933 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Lebanon Township | — | 686 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Manchester Township | — | 680 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 Damascus 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 Damascus Township
Is Damascus Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Damascus Township has higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #854 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). 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 Damascus Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 52 claims in Damascus Township since 1979, $1.8M in all, or 21.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 14 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (10).
Is Damascus 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 Wayne County, 12% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Damascus Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Damascus 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 Damascus Township?
By FEMA money that reached Damascus Township, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides (2006): 21 households applied for aid, $53K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 10 paid, $253K.
Is Damascus Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Damascus Township’s rate for it is higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Damascus Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Damascus 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.