Less hazard damage per building is expected in Lehman Township than in 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lehman Township gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns, #44 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%). Flood insurance has paid 13 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 Lehman 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 Lehman Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lehman Township, and Lehman Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 87% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #44 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Lehman 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, Lehman Township has less expected damage per building than 96% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $645K a year in losses across Lehman Township: $466K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lehman Township flood? Sometimes: 13 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lehman Township, from FEMA’s records: 8.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene3 claims · $16K
- Tropical Storm Ivan1 claim · $10K
- Tropical Storm Lee1 claim · $3K
Lehman 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: Luzerne County.The storms Lehman Township remembers
None of the 18 disasters declared for Luzerne County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Lehman Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20116 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storm Lee, declared for Luzerne County
- 20042 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Luzerne County
- 20052 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Luzerne County
Luzerne County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Lehman Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lehman Township archive →Lehman Township and its neighbors
Lehman Township has the lowest expected damage per building of the 7 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lehman Township | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Dallas Township | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Jackson Township | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Lake Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Ross Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Harveys Lake | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Plymouth Township | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 353 |
| Silkworth | — | 745 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Pikes Creek | — | 221 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 Lehman 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 Lehman Township
Is Lehman Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lehman Township has lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #44 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and hurricanes (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 Lehman Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 13 claims in Lehman Township since 1978, $66K in all, or 8.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (3).
Is Lehman 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 Luzerne County, 53% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Lehman Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lehman 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 Lehman Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 3 paid, $16K.
Is Lehman Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Lehman Township’s rate for it is lower than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lehman Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lehman 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.