Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Ferguson Township faces less hazard damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ferguson Township gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns, #55 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 1979.
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 Ferguson 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 Ferguson Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ferguson Township, and Ferguson Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 82% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #55 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Ferguson Township’s residents live in 8 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, Ferguson Township has less expected damage per building than 95% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.3M a year in losses across Ferguson Township: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ferguson Township flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ferguson Township, from FEMA’s records: 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan3 claims · $15K
Ferguson 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: Centre County.The storms Ferguson Township remembers
None of the 12 disasters declared for Centre County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Ferguson Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20043 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Centre County
- 20132 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared for Centre County
- 19791 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Centre County has had 12 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Ferguson Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ferguson Township archive →Ferguson Township and its neighbors
Ferguson Township is 3rd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| State College | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Patton Township | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Ferguson Township | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| College Township | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| Halfmoon Township | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Harris Township | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Barree Township | — | 509 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Franklin Township | — | 431 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Baileyville | — | 190 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Jackson Township | — | 829 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 Ferguson 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 Ferguson Township
Is Ferguson Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ferguson Township has lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #55 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ferguson Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Ferguson Township since 1979, $44K in all, or 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (3).
Is Ferguson 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 Centre County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Ferguson Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ferguson 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 Ferguson Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 3 paid, $15K.
Is Ferguson Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Ferguson Township’s rate for it is lower than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ferguson Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ferguson 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.