Photo: Nicholas · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Hellam Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hellam Township gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #735 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%), then hurricanes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 111 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 Hellam Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Hellam 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 Hellam Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hellam Township, and Hellam Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 13% (higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #735 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hellam 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, Hellam Township has more expected damage per building than 71% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Hellam Township: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hellam Township flood? Yes: 111 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hellam Township, from FEMA’s records: 43.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee17 claims · $356K
- Tropical Storm Ivan6 claims · $143K
Hellam 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: York County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hellam Township
Disasters that paid out in Hellam Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Hellam Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida1 households applied for aid$349 aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $13K
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee40 households applied for aid$112K aid approved17 flood claims paid for it, $356K
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved6 flood claims paid for it, $143K
York County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Hellam Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hellam Township archive →Hellam Township and its neighbors
Hellam Township is 7th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Manchester Township | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Springettsbury Township | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Lower Windsor Township | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 118 |
| East Donegal Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| West Hempfield Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Conoy Township | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Hellam Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 111 |
| Manor Township | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 133 |
| Wrightsville | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
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 Hellam 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 Hellam Township
Is Hellam Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hellam Township has lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #735 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and hurricanes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hellam Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 111 claims in Hellam Township since 1978, $1.1M in all, or 43.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 14 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (17).
Is Hellam 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 York County, 30% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hellam Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hellam 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 Hellam Township?
By FEMA money that reached Hellam Township, Tropical Storm Lee (2011): 40 households applied for aid, $112K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 17 paid, $356K.
Is Hellam Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Hellam Township’s rate for it is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hellam Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hellam 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.