Bridge between Guilford and Hamilton Townships · Photo: Smallbones · CC0FEMA puts Hamilton Township’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 77% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hamilton Township gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, #447 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 8 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hamilton Township, and Hamilton Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #447 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hamilton Township’s residents live in 2 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, Hamilton Township has less expected damage per building than 57% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Hamilton Township: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hamilton Township flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hamilton Township, from FEMA’s records: 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 65% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Hamilton 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: Franklin County.The storms Hamilton Township remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Franklin County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Hamilton Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19964 flood claims paidThe year of Flooding, Severe Storms, declared for Franklin County
- 20182 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19791 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Franklin 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 Hamilton Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hamilton Township archive →Hamilton Township and its neighbors
Hamilton Township is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guilford Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Hamilton Township | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Chambersburg | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Letterkenny Township | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| St. Thomas Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Greene Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Marion | — | 878 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton Township
Is Hamilton Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hamilton Township has lower expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #447 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and hurricanes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hamilton Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Hamilton Township since 1979, $95K in all, or 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 65% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Hamilton 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 Franklin County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hamilton Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hamilton Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Hamilton Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Hamilton Township’s rate for it is lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hamilton Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hamilton 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.