On FEMA’s figures, East Pennsboro Township faces less hazard damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, East Pennsboro Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #605 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 134 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 Pennsboro Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What East Pennsboro 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 Pennsboro Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in East Pennsboro Township, and East Pennsboro Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 9% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
B #605 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
East Pennsboro Township’s residents live in 5 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 Pennsboro Township has more expected damage per building than 58% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.7M a year in losses across East Pennsboro Township: $4.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does East Pennsboro Township flood? Yes: 134 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in East Pennsboro Township, from FEMA’s records: 14.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan24 claims · $454K
- Tropical Storm Lee17 claims · $529K
- Hurricane Debby1 claim · $197K
East Pennsboro 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: Cumberland County.The storms East Pennsboro Township remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Cumberland County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching East Pennsboro Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 199642 flood claims paidThe year of Flooding Associated with Tropical Depression Fran, declared for Cumberland County
- 200424 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Cumberland County
- 201119 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storm Lee, declared for Cumberland County
Cumberland County has had 15 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 Pennsboro Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the East Pennsboro Township archive →East Pennsboro Township and its neighbors
East Pennsboro Township is 3rd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camp Hill | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 71 |
| Hampden Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 165 |
| East Pennsboro Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 134 |
| Susquehanna Township | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 523 |
| Harrisburg | C−more damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 1,516 |
| Rye Township | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Wormleysburg | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 84 |
| West Fairview | — | 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 Pennsboro 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 Pennsboro Township
Is East Pennsboro Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, East Pennsboro Township has lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #605 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and hurricanes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does East Pennsboro Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 134 claims in East Pennsboro Township since 1978, $2.0M in all, or 14.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (24).
Is East Pennsboro 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 Cumberland County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in East Pennsboro Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for East Pennsboro 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 Pennsboro Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 24 paid, $454K.
Is East Pennsboro Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and East Pennsboro Township’s rate for it is higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in East Pennsboro Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where East Pennsboro 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.