Delaware Aqueduct · Photo: Beyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Lackawaxen Township faces less hazard damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lackawaxen Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #615 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 17 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 Lackawaxen 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
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 Lackawaxen Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lackawaxen Township, and Lackawaxen Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
B #615 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lackawaxen 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, Lackawaxen Township has more expected damage per building than 59% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.0M a year in losses across Lackawaxen Township: $2.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lackawaxen Township flood? Sometimes: 17 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lackawaxen Township, from FEMA’s records: 3.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 52% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan3 claims · $44K
Lackawaxen 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: Pike County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lackawaxen Township
Disasters that paid out in Lackawaxen Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Lackawaxen Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides11 households applied for aid$35K aid approved10 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$807 aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan7 households applied for aid$9K aid approved3 flood claims paid for it, $44K
Pike County has had 13 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 Lackawaxen Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lackawaxen Township archive →Lackawaxen Township and its neighbors
Lackawaxen 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blooming Grove Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Palmyra Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Shohola Township | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Lackawaxen Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Berlin Township | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Palmyra Township | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Highland | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Tusten | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
| Masthope | — | 689 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Narrowsburg | — | 482 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 Lackawaxen 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.
- 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 Lackawaxen Township
Is Lackawaxen Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lackawaxen Township has lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #615 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lackawaxen Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 17 claims in Lackawaxen Township since 1981, $561K in all, or 3.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 52% 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 Lackawaxen 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 Pike County, 12% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Lackawaxen Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lackawaxen 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 Lackawaxen Township?
By FEMA money that reached Lackawaxen Township, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides (2006): 11 households applied for aid, $35K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 3 paid, $44K.
Is Lackawaxen Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Lackawaxen Township’s rate for it is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lackawaxen Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lackawaxen 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.