FEMA puts Hopewell Township’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hopewell Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #182 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 68 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 Hopewell Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Hopewell 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
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 Hopewell Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hopewell Township, and Hopewell Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
A #182 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hopewell 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, Hopewell Township has less expected damage per building than 83% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Hopewell Township: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hopewell Township flood? Sometimes: 68 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hopewell Township, from FEMA’s records: 10.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan18 claims · $1.1M
- Hurricane Ida3 claims · $62K
Hopewell 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: Beaver County.The storms Hopewell Township remembers
None of the 12 disasters declared for Beaver County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Hopewell Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 200427 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Beaver County
- 199616 flood claims paidThe year of Flooding, Severe Storms, declared for Beaver County
- 19796 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Beaver County has had 12 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Hopewell Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hopewell Township archive →Hopewell Township and its neighbors
Hopewell Township is 2nd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Center Township | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| Hopewell Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 68 |
| Moon Township | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Baden | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Aliquippa | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 37 |
| Economy | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Independence Township | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| South Heights | — | 408 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 Hopewell 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.
- 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 Hopewell Township
Is Hopewell Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hopewell Township has lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #182 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hopewell Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 68 claims in Hopewell Township since 1978, $1.7M in all, or 10.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (18).
Is Hopewell 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 Beaver County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hopewell Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hopewell 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 Hopewell Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 18 paid, $1.1M.
Is Hopewell Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Hopewell Township’s rate for it is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hopewell Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hopewell 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.