Green Hills Farm · Photo: Smallbones · CC0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Hilltown Township than in 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hilltown Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #195 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%). Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 1983.
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 Hilltown 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
Earthquakes
Tornadoes
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 Hilltown Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hilltown Township, and Hilltown Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 75% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 4%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
A #195 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hilltown Township’s residents live in 3 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, Hilltown Township has less expected damage per building than 81% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.1M a year in losses across Hilltown Township: $3.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hilltown Township flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hilltown Township, from FEMA’s records: 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 76% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida2 claims · $20K
Hilltown 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: Bucks County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hilltown Township
Disasters that paid out in Hilltown Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Hilltown Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida2 households applied for aid$20K aid approved2 flood claims paid for it, $20K
- 2011Hurricane Irene1 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides1 households applied for aid$830 aid approved
Bucks County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Hilltown Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hilltown Township archive →Hilltown Township and its neighbors
Hilltown Township is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telford | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hilltown Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| West Rockhill Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| New Britain Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Dublin | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hatfield Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| Bedminster Township | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| East Rockhill Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Perkasie | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
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 Hilltown 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 Hilltown Township
Is Hilltown Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hilltown Township has lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #195 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and earthquakes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hilltown Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Hilltown Township since 1983, $29K in all, or 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 76% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (2).
Is Hilltown 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 Bucks County, 49% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hilltown Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hilltown 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 Hilltown Township?
By FEMA money that reached Hilltown Township, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 2 households applied for aid, $20K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 2 paid, $20K.
Is Hilltown Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Hilltown Township’s rate for it is lower than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hilltown Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hilltown 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.