Photo: Acroterion · CC BY-SA 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Frackville than in 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Frackville gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, #169 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%). Flood insurance has paid 12 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 Frackville 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 Frackville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Frackville, and Frackville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 75% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
A #169 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Frackville’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, Frackville has less expected damage per building than 84% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $690K a year in losses across Frackville: $472K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Frackville flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Frackville, from FEMA’s records: 7.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Frackville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Schuylkill County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Frackville
Disasters that paid out in Frackville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Frackville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee4 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides55 households applied for aid$44K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan7 households applied for aid$15K aid approved
Schuylkill County has had 20 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 Frackville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Frackville archive →Frackville and its neighbors
Frackville has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frackville | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| West Mahanoy Township | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Butler Township | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Englewood | — | 661 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Altamont | — | 526 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 Frackville 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 Frackville
Is Frackville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Frackville has lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #169 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and hurricanes (10%). 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 Frackville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Frackville since 1978, $226K in all, or 7.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Frackville 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 Schuylkill County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Frackville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Frackville’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 Frackville?
By FEMA money that reached Frackville, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides (2006): 55 households applied for aid, $44K approved.
Is Frackville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Frackville’s rate for it is lower than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Frackville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Frackville’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.