FEMA puts Indiana Township’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Indiana Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #155 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 12 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 Indiana 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 Indiana Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Indiana Township, and Indiana Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
A #155 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Indiana 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, Indiana Township has less expected damage per building than 85% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Indiana Township: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Indiana Township flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Indiana Township, from FEMA’s records: 4.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 56% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan3 claims · $54K
- Hurricane Ida1 claim · $4K
Indiana 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: Allegheny County.The storms Indiana Township remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Allegheny County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Indiana Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20043 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Allegheny County
- 19862 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Allegheny County
- 19781 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Allegheny County has had 15 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 Indiana Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Indiana Township archive →Indiana Township and its neighbors
Indiana Township is 4th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frazer Township | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Hampton Township | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 89 |
| West Deer Township | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Indiana Township | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Shaler Township | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 228 |
| Fox Chapel | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Harmar Township | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 51 |
| O'Hara Township | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Allison Park | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Indiana 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 Indiana Township
Is Indiana Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Indiana Township has lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #155 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Indiana Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Indiana Township since 1978, $140K in all, or 4.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 56% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (3).
Is Indiana 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 Allegheny County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Indiana Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Indiana 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 Indiana Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 3 paid, $54K.
Is Indiana Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Indiana Township’s rate for it is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Indiana Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Indiana 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.