Photo: Smallbones · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Lititz faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lititz gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #693 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%), then hurricanes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 50 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 stands out about Lititz’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Lititz 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
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 Lititz’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lititz, and Lititz’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 13% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
B #693 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lititz’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, Lititz has more expected damage per building than 67% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.1M a year in losses across Lititz: $2.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lititz flood? Sometimes: 50 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lititz, from FEMA’s records: 12.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee12 claims · $136K
- Tropical Storm Ivan1 claim · $25K
Lititz isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lancaster County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lititz
Disasters that paid out in Lititz itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Lititz), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee245 households applied for aid$414K aid approved12 flood claims paid for it, $136K
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides34 households applied for aid$49K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
Lancaster County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Lititz after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lititz archive →Get ready for what Lititz 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.
- 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 Lititz
Is Lititz at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lititz has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #693 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and hurricanes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lititz flood?
Flood insurance has paid 50 claims in Lititz since 1978, $1.5M in all, or 12.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (12).
Is Lititz 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 Lancaster County, 27% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Lititz?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lititz’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 Lititz?
By FEMA money that reached Lititz, Tropical Storm Lee (2011): 245 households applied for aid, $414K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 12 paid, $136K.
Is Lititz at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Lititz’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lititz.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lititz’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.