Stiegel-Coleman House · Photo: Smallbones · CC0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Elizabeth Township than in 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elizabeth Township gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #465 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%), then hurricanes (16%). Flood insurance has paid 9 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 Elizabeth 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 Elizabeth Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Elizabeth Township, and Elizabeth Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 16% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #465 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Elizabeth Township’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Pennsylvania town has lower expected damage than 71% of U.S. towns; within the state, Elizabeth Township has less expected damage per building than 55% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Elizabeth Township: $750K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Elizabeth Township flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Elizabeth Township, from FEMA’s records: 6.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 65% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee3 claims · $216K
- Hurricane Ida1 claim · $21K
Elizabeth 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 Elizabeth Township remembers
None of the 18 disasters declared for Lancaster County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Elizabeth Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20113 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storm Lee, declared for Lancaster County
- 20183 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19781 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 Elizabeth Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Elizabeth Township archive →Elizabeth Township and its neighbors
Elizabeth Township is 2nd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heidelberg Township | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Elizabeth Township | A−less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Warwick Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Penn Township | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Clay Township | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Brickerville | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Hopeland | — | 760 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Penryn | — | 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 Elizabeth 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 Elizabeth Township
Is Elizabeth Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elizabeth Township has lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #465 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and hurricanes (16%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Elizabeth Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Elizabeth Township since 1978, $415K in all, or 6.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 65% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (3).
Is Elizabeth 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 Elizabeth Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Elizabeth 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 Elizabeth Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 3 paid, $216K.
Is Elizabeth Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Elizabeth Township’s rate for it is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Elizabeth Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Elizabeth 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.