Photo: Photo by and (c)2006 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) · CC BY-SA 2.5On FEMA’s figures, East Cocalico Township faces less hazard damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, East Cocalico Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns, #654 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%), then hurricanes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 27 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 East Cocalico Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What East Cocalico 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 East Cocalico Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in East Cocalico Township, and East Cocalico Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 13% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
B #654 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns (21,298).
East Cocalico Township’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, East Cocalico Township has more expected damage per building than 63% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.7M a year in losses across East Cocalico Township: $2.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does East Cocalico Township flood? Sometimes: 27 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in East Cocalico Township, from FEMA’s records: 7.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee6 claims · $242K
- Hurricane Ida4 claims · $19K
East Cocalico 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.The storms East Cocalico Township remembers
None of the 18 disasters declared for Lancaster County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching East Cocalico Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 201812 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20116 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storm Lee, declared for Lancaster County
- 20214 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
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 East Cocalico Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the East Cocalico Township archive →East Cocalico Township and its neighbors
East Cocalico Township is 4th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Township | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
| Earl Township | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| West Cocalico Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| East Cocalico Township | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Adamstown | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Denver | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Ephrata Township | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| Brecknock Township | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Swartzville | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Reinholds | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Reamstown | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 East Cocalico 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 East Cocalico Township
Is East Cocalico Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, East Cocalico Township has lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #654 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and hurricanes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does East Cocalico Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 27 claims in East Cocalico Township since 1978, $527K in all, or 7.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (6).
Is East Cocalico 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 East Cocalico Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for East Cocalico 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 East Cocalico Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 6 paid, $242K.
Is East Cocalico Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and East Cocalico Township’s rate for it is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in East Cocalico Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where East Cocalico 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.