Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Economy faces less hazard damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Economy gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #650 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 20 claims here since 1982.
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 Economy’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Economy 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 Economy’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Economy, and Economy’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
B #650 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Economy’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, Economy has more expected damage per building than 63% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Economy: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Economy flood? Sometimes: 20 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Economy, from FEMA’s records: 5.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan7 claims · $204K
Economy isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Beaver County.The storms Economy remembers
None of the 12 disasters declared for Beaver County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Economy itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20048 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Beaver County
- 20104 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms, declared for Beaver County
- 19903 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Beaver County has had 12 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Economy after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Economy archive →Economy and its neighbors
Economy is 9th of the 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Park | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Marshall Township | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Harmony Township | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 51 |
| Cranberry Township | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
| Hopewell Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 68 |
| New Sewickley Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Baden | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Conway | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Economy | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Bell Acres | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Ambridge Heights | — | 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 Economy 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 Economy
Is Economy at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Economy has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #650 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 Economy flood?
Flood insurance has paid 20 claims in Economy since 1982, $272K in all, or 5.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (7).
Is Economy 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 Beaver County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Economy?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Economy’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 Economy?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 7 paid, $204K.
Is Economy at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Economy’s rate for it is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Economy.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Economy’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.