Photo: Smallbones at English Wikipedia · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Kennett Township faces less hazard damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kennett Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #557 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 21 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 stands out about Kennett Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Kennett 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 Kennett Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Kennett Township, and Kennett Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #557 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Kennett 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, Kennett Township has more expected damage per building than 54% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.9M a year in losses across Kennett Township: $3.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Kennett Township flood? Sometimes: 21 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Kennett Township, from FEMA’s records: 5.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd3 claims · $48K
- Hurricane Irene2 claims · $30K
- Hurricane Isaias2 claims · $21K
Kennett 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: Chester County.The storms Kennett Township remembers
None of the 21 disasters declared for Chester County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Kennett Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20034 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storms Henri and Isabel and Related Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Chester County
- 20204 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19993 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations, declared for Chester County
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 Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Kennett Township archive →Kennett Township and its neighbors
Kennett Township is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Garden Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Pennsbury Township | A−less damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| East Marlborough Township | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Kennett Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
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 Kennett 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 Kennett Township
Is Kennett Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Kennett Township has lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #557 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Kennett Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 21 claims in Kennett Township since 1983, $345K in all, or 5.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (3).
Is Kennett 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 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 Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Kennett 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 Kennett Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 3 paid, $48K.
Is Kennett Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Kennett Township’s rate for it is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Kennett Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Kennett 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.