Photo: Doug Kerr · CC BY-SA 2.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Downingtown than in 76% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Downingtown gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns, #942 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 336 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 Downingtown’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Downingtown 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 Downingtown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Downingtown, and Downingtown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #942 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Downingtown’s residents live in 2 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, Downingtown has more expected damage per building than 91% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.0M a year in losses across Downingtown: $3.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Downingtown flood? Yes: 336 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Downingtown, from FEMA’s records: 90.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida83 claims · $5.9M
- Hurricane Floyd33 claims · $184K
- The Mid-spring storms32 claims · $423K
Downingtown isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Chester County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Downingtown
Disasters that paid out in Downingtown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Downingtown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida597 households applied for aid$1.8M aid approved83 flood claims paid for it, $5.9M
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee10 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene69 households applied for aid$58K aid approved17 flood claims paid for it, $224K
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides106 households applied for aid$151K aid approved51 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan18 households applied for aid$23K aid approved17 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Tropical Storms Henri and Isabel and Related Severe Storms and Flooding142 households applied for aid$313K aid approved49 flood claims paid that year
Chester County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Downingtown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Downingtown archive →Downingtown and its neighbors
Downingtown is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Bradford Township | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| East Caln Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Caln Township | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 28 |
| Downingtown | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 336 |
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 Downingtown 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 Downingtown
Is Downingtown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Downingtown has higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #942 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Downingtown flood?
Flood insurance has paid 336 claims in Downingtown since 1978, $8.3M in all, or 90.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 57 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (83).
Is Downingtown 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 Chester County, 40% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Downingtown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Downingtown’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 Downingtown?
By FEMA money that reached Downingtown, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 597 households applied for aid, $1.8M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 83 paid, $5.9M.
Is Downingtown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Downingtown’s rate for it is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Downingtown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Downingtown’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.