West Overton Historic District · Photo: Martin Stupich · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, East Huntingdon Township faces less hazard damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, East Huntingdon Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #227 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1985.
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 East Huntingdon 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 East Huntingdon Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in East Huntingdon Township, and East Huntingdon Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
A #227 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
East Huntingdon 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 Huntingdon Township has less expected damage per building than 78% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across East Huntingdon Township: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does East Huntingdon Township flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in East Huntingdon Township, from FEMA’s records: 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
East Huntingdon 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: Westmoreland County.The storms East Huntingdon Township remembers
None of the 17 disasters declared for Westmoreland County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching East Huntingdon Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19902 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20002 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19851 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County has had 17 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 Huntingdon Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the East Huntingdon Township archive →East Huntingdon Township and its neighbors
East Huntingdon Township is 3rd of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hempfield Township | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 93 |
| Mount Pleasant | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| East Huntingdon Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Mount Pleasant Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 46 |
| South Huntingdon Township | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Bullskin Township | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Upper Tyrone Township | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Lower Tyrone Township | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Scottdale | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Hunker | — | 297 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 East Huntingdon 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 East Huntingdon Township
Is East Huntingdon Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, East Huntingdon Township has lower expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #227 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does East Huntingdon Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in East Huntingdon Township since 1985, $72K in all, or 2.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is East Huntingdon 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 Westmoreland County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in East Huntingdon Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for East Huntingdon Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is East Huntingdon Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and East Huntingdon Township’s rate for it is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in East Huntingdon Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where East Huntingdon 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.