Less hazard damage per building is expected in Germany Township than in 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Germany Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #586 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%), then hurricanes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1996.
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 Germany 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 Germany Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Germany Township, and Germany Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 11% (higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #586 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Germany 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, Germany Township has more expected damage per building than 56% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $746K a year in losses across Germany Township: $588K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Germany Township flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Germany Township, from FEMA’s records: 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Germany 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: Adams County.The storms Germany Township remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Adams County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Germany Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19961 flood claims paidThe year of Flooding, Severe Storms, declared for Adams County
Adams County has had 16 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 Germany Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Germany Township archive →Germany Township and its neighbors
Germany Township is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Littlestown | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Union Township | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 291 |
| Germany Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Mount Pleasant Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Mount Joy Township | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
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 Germany 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 Germany Township
Is Germany Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Germany Township has lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #586 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and hurricanes (11%). 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 Germany Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Germany Township since 1996, $6K in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Germany 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 Adams County, 25% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Germany Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Germany Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Germany Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Germany Township’s rate for it is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Germany Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Germany 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.