Photo: Ron Shawley · CC BY 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Jackson Township than almost anywhere in the U.S., mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Jackson Township gets an A+ for hazard risk: among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns, #16 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%). Flood insurance has paid 3 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 Jackson 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
Tornadoes
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 Jackson Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Jackson Township, and Jackson Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 92% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 7% (lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #16 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Jackson 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, Jackson Township has less expected damage per building than 99% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $662K a year in losses across Jackson Township: $514K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Jackson Township flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Jackson Township, from FEMA’s records: 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Jackson 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: Cambria County.The storms Jackson Township remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Cambria County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Jackson Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19831 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19971 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20071 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Cambria County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Jackson Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Jackson Township archive →Jackson Township and its neighbors
Jackson Township is 2nd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambria Township | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Jackson Township | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Blacklick Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| East Wheatfield Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Nanty-Glo | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Croyle Township | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Twin Rocks | — | 238 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Vintondale | — | 390 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Mundys Corner | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| West Taylor Township | — | 706 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 Jackson 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.
- 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.
- 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 Jackson Township
Is Jackson Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Jackson Township has among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #16 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and tornadoes (7%). 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 Jackson Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Jackson Township since 1983, $2K in all, or 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Jackson 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 Cambria County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Jackson Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Jackson Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Jackson Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Jackson Township’s rate for it is lower than 92% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Jackson Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Jackson 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.