Witmer's Tavern · Photo: Smallbones · CC BY-SA 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in East Lampeter Township than in 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, East Lampeter Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #591 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%), then hurricanes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 73 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 Lampeter Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What East Lampeter 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
Earthquakes
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 Lampeter Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in East Lampeter Township, and East Lampeter Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 14% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #591 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
East Lampeter Township’s residents live in 3 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 Lampeter Township has more expected damage per building than 57% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.8M a year in losses across East Lampeter Township: $5.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does East Lampeter Township flood? Sometimes: 73 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in East Lampeter Township, from FEMA’s records: 10.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd6 claims · $200K
- Tropical Storm Lee5 claims · $608K
East Lampeter 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 Lampeter Township remembers
None of the 18 disasters declared for Lancaster County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching East Lampeter Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 197821 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20058 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19797 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 Lampeter Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the East Lampeter Township archive →East Lampeter Township and its neighbors
East Lampeter 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Leacock Township | A−less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Manheim Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 49 |
| East Lampeter Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 73 |
| West Lampeter Township | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 91 |
| Leacock Township | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Strasburg Township | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 131 |
| Paradise Township | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 94 |
| Lancaster | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 81 |
| Lancaster Township | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 99 |
| Soudersburg | — | 592 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 Lampeter 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Lampeter Township
Is East Lampeter Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, East Lampeter Township has lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #591 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and hurricanes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does East Lampeter Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 73 claims in East Lampeter Township since 1978, $2.5M in all, or 10.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (6).
Is East Lampeter 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 Lampeter Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for East Lampeter 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 Lampeter Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 6 paid, $200K.
Is East Lampeter Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and East Lampeter Township’s rate for it is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in East Lampeter Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where East Lampeter 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.