Photo: {{{1}}} · CC BY-SA 2.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Loyalsock Township than in 61% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Loyalsock Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns, #656 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 263 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 Loyalsock Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Loyalsock 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 Loyalsock Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Loyalsock Township, and Loyalsock Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
B #656 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Loyalsock 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, Loyalsock Township has more expected damage per building than 63% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.0M a year in losses across Loyalsock Township: $2.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Loyalsock Township flood? Yes: 263 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Loyalsock Township, from FEMA’s records: 50.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee46 claims · $1.5M
- Tropical Storm Ivan30 claims · $587K
- Hurricane Debby5 claims · $72K
Loyalsock 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: Lycoming County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Loyalsock Township
Disasters that paid out in Loyalsock Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Loyalsock Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Tropical Storm Debby$28K to Loyalsock Township for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $72K
- 2018Severe Storms and Flooding$121K to Loyalsock Township for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding$349K to Loyalsock Township for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee$193K to Loyalsock Township for repairs46 flood claims paid for it, $1.5M
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan$99K to Loyalsock Township for repairs30 flood claims paid for it, $587K
- 2003Snow$9K to Loyalsock Township for repairs
Lycoming County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Loyalsock Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Loyalsock Township archive →Loyalsock Township and its neighbors
Loyalsock Township is 3rd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield Township | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 57 |
| Williamsport | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 98 |
| Loyalsock Township | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 263 |
| Upper Fairfield Township | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 81 |
| Eldred Township | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Old Lycoming Township | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 552 |
| Montoursville | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 128 |
| Garden View | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Armstrong Township | — | 536 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Kenmar | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Faxon | — | 727 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 Loyalsock 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 Loyalsock Township
Is Loyalsock Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Loyalsock Township has lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #656 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Loyalsock Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 263 claims in Loyalsock Township since 1978, $4.0M in all, or 50.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 92% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 38 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (46).
Is Loyalsock 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 Lycoming County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Loyalsock Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Loyalsock 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 Loyalsock Township?
By FEMA money that reached Loyalsock Township, Severe Storms and Flooding (2016): $349K to Loyalsock Township for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 46 paid, $1.5M.
Is Loyalsock Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Loyalsock Township’s rate for it is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Loyalsock Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Loyalsock 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.