Photo: Coemgenus at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Kennett Square faces less hazard damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kennett Square gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, #497 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 16 claims here since 1981.
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 Kennett Square 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
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 Kennett Square’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Kennett Square, and Kennett Square’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 7% (higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #497 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Kennett Square’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, Kennett Square has less expected damage per building than 52% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Kennett Square: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Kennett Square flood? Sometimes: 16 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Kennett Square, from FEMA’s records: 6.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Isaias1 claim · $11K
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $29K
- Hurricane Floyd1 claim · $29K
Kennett Square isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Chester County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Kennett Square
Disasters that paid out in Kennett Square itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Kennett Square), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida48 households applied for aid$44K aid approved
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee2 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene6 households applied for aid$11K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $29K
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides2 households applied for aid$2K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan9 households applied for aid$29K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Tropical Storms Henri and Isabel and Related Severe Storms and Flooding74 households applied for aid$239K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
Chester County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Kennett Square after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Kennett Square archive →Get ready for what Kennett Square 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.
- 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 Kennett Square
Is Kennett Square at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kennett Square has lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #497 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and earthquakes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Kennett Square flood?
Flood insurance has paid 16 claims in Kennett Square since 1981, $295K in all, or 6.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Isaias (1).
Is Kennett Square 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 Chester County, 40% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Kennett Square?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Kennett Square’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 Kennett Square?
By FEMA money that reached Kennett Square, Tropical Storms Henri and Isabel and Related Severe Storms and Flooding (2003): 74 households applied for aid, $239K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Isaias: 1 paid, $11K.
Is Kennett Square at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Kennett Square’s rate for it is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Kennett Square.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Kennett Square’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.