Photo: Grantg98 · CC BY-SA 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Montgomery Township than in 97% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Montgomery Township gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, #86 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%). Flood insurance has paid 42 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 Montgomery Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Montgomery 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
Tornadoes
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 Montgomery Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Montgomery Township, and Montgomery Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #86 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Montgomery Township’s residents live in 5 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, Montgomery Township has less expected damage per building than 92% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.9M a year in losses across Montgomery Township: $4.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Montgomery Township flood? Sometimes: 42 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Montgomery Township, from FEMA’s records: 4.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd8 claims · $540K
- Tropical Storm Allison5 claims · $155K
- Hurricane Ida3 claims · $20K
Montgomery 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: Montgomery County.The storms Montgomery Township remembers
None of the 23 disasters declared for Montgomery County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Montgomery Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 199610 flood claims paidThe year of Flooding Associated with Tropical Depression Fran, declared for Montgomery County
- 19998 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations, declared for Montgomery County
- 20015 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storm Allison, declared for Montgomery County
Montgomery County has had 23 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 Montgomery Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Montgomery Township archive →Montgomery Township and its neighbors
Montgomery Township has the lowest expected damage per building of the 5 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery Township | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 42 |
| Lansdale | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Warrington Township | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 119 |
| Horsham Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 96 |
| Hatfield Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| Montgomeryville | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Montgomery 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 Montgomery Township
Is Montgomery Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Montgomery Township has lower expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #86 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Montgomery Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 42 claims in Montgomery Township since 1978, $1.1M in all, or 4.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (8).
Is Montgomery 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 Montgomery County, 47% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Montgomery Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Montgomery 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 Montgomery Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 8 paid, $540K.
Is Montgomery Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Montgomery Township’s rate for it is lower than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Montgomery Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Montgomery 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.