Trenton City/Calhoun Street Bridge · Photo: Aerolin55 · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Morrisville faces more hazard damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Morrisville gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #918 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 10 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 Morrisville 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 Morrisville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Morrisville, and Morrisville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
C #918 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Morrisville’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, Morrisville has more expected damage per building than 89% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.3M a year in losses across Morrisville: $2.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Morrisville flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Morrisville, from FEMA’s records: 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 57% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Torrential rain4 claims · $49K
- The Mid-spring storms1 claim · $2K
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $15K
Morrisville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Bucks County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Morrisville
Disasters that paid out in Morrisville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Morrisville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida122 households applied for aid$68K aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene45 households applied for aid$35K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $15K
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides5 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding23 households applied for aid$72K aid approved6 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan4 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
Bucks County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Morrisville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Morrisville archive →Morrisville and its neighbors
Morrisville is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Falls Township | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 117 |
| Lower Makefield Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 186 |
| Morrisville | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Trenton | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 830 |
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 Morrisville 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 Morrisville
Is Morrisville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Morrisville has higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #918 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Morrisville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in Morrisville since 1978, $139K in all, or 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 57% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Torrential rain (4).
Is Morrisville 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 Bucks County, 49% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Morrisville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Morrisville’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 Morrisville?
By FEMA money that reached Morrisville, Severe Storms and Flooding (2005): 23 households applied for aid, $72K approved. By flood claims, Torrential rain: 4 paid, $49K.
Is Morrisville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Morrisville’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Morrisville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Morrisville’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.