FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Liberty Township than in 76% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Liberty Township gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 23 claims here since 1992.
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 Liberty Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Liberty 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 Liberty Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Liberty Township, and Liberty Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
A− lower expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Liberty Township’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $466K a year in losses across Liberty Township: $395K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Liberty Township flood? Sometimes: 23 flood claims since 1992
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Liberty Township, from FEMA’s records: 44.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan1 claim · $8K
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $14K
Liberty 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: Susquehanna County.The storms Liberty Township remembers
None of the 20 disasters declared for Susquehanna County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Liberty Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 201813 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Susquehanna County
- 20063 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Susquehanna County
- 20173 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Susquehanna County has had 20 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 Liberty Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Liberty Township archive →Liberty Township and its neighbors
Liberty Township is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Lake Township | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Liberty Township | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Conklin | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 704 |
| Great Bend Township | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 82 |
| Franklin Township | — | 710 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 Liberty 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 Liberty Township
Is Liberty Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Liberty Township has lower expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (8%). 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 Liberty Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 23 claims in Liberty Township since 1992, $834K in all, or 44.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (1).
Is Liberty 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 Susquehanna County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Liberty Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Liberty 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 Liberty Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 1 paid, $8K.
Is Liberty Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Liberty Township’s rate for it is lower than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Liberty Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Liberty 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.