Photo: Shuvaev · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Hegins Township faces less hazard damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hegins Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #617 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim 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 Hegins 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 Hegins Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hegins Township, and Hegins Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts).
B #617 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Hegins 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, Hegins Township has more expected damage per building than 59% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Hegins Township: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hegins Township flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hegins Township, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Hegins 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: Schuylkill County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hegins Township
Disasters that paid out in Hegins Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Hegins Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee31 households applied for aid$60K aid approved
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides3 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan22 households applied for aid$66K 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 Hegins Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hegins Township archive →Hegins Township and its neighbors
Hegins Township 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hegins Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Porter Township | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Williams Township | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 117 |
| Hubley Township | — | 891 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Eldred Township | — | 911 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Frailey Township | — | 415 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Upper Mahantongo Township | — | 550 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Barry Township | — | 860 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Foster Township | — | 258 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 Hegins 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 Hegins Township
Is Hegins Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hegins Township has lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #617 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and hurricanes (6%). 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 Hegins Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Hegins Township since 1979, $1K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Hegins 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 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 Hegins Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hegins 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 Hegins Township?
By FEMA money that reached Hegins Township, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 22 households applied for aid, $66K approved.
Is Hegins Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Hegins Township’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hegins Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hegins 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.