Photo: Generic1139 · CC BY 3.0FEMA puts Forward Township’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Forward Township gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #903 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). Flood insurance has paid 160 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 Forward Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Forward 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
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 Forward Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 97% of the building damage FEMA expects in Forward Township, and Forward Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
C #903 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Forward 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, Forward Township has more expected damage per building than 87% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Forward Township: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Forward Township flood? Yes: 160 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Forward Township, from FEMA’s records: 111.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan14 claims · $570K
Forward 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: Allegheny County.The storms Forward Township remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Allegheny County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Forward Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 200436 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Allegheny County
- 199017 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 199614 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Allegheny County
Allegheny County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Forward Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Forward Township archive →Forward Township and its neighbors
Forward Township is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Hills | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 58 |
| Rostraver Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Union Township | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Carroll Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 53 |
| Elizabeth Township | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 151 |
| Forward Township | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 160 |
| New Eagle | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Monongahela | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 74 |
| Elizabeth | Dmore damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 48 |
| Bunola | — | 134 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 Forward 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.
- 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 Forward Township
Is Forward Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Forward Township has higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #903 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (97%). 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 Forward Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 160 claims in Forward Township since 1978, $2.3M in all, or 111.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 21 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (14).
Is Forward 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 Allegheny County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Forward Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Forward 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 Forward Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 14 paid, $570K.
Is Forward Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (97%), and Forward Township’s rate for it is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Forward Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Forward 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.