Thomas Leiper Estate · Photo: Smallbones · CC0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Nether Providence Township than in 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Nether Providence Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #317 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 17 claims here since 1989.
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 Nether Providence 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
Earthquakes
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
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 Nether Providence Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Nether Providence Township, and Nether Providence Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 66% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 7% (higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts).
A #317 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Nether Providence Township’s residents live in 3 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, Nether Providence Township has less expected damage per building than 69% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.7M a year in losses across Nether Providence Township: $2.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Nether Providence Township flood? Sometimes: 17 flood claims since 1989
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Nether Providence Township, from FEMA’s records: 3.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 50% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene5 claims · $97K
- Hurricane Floyd2 claims · $52K
- The Mid-spring storms1 claim · $33K
Nether Providence 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: Delaware County.The storms Nether Providence Township remembers
None of the 19 disasters declared for Delaware County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Nether Providence Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20115 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storm Lee, declared for Delaware County
- 20043 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Delaware County
- 19892 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Delaware County has had 19 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Nether Providence Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Nether Providence Township archive →Nether Providence Township and its neighbors
Nether Providence Township is 6th of the 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Marple Township | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Springfield Township | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 123 |
| Upper Providence Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Swarthmore | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Nether Providence Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Rose Valley | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Ridley Township | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 85 |
| Chester | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 148 |
| Brookhaven | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 53 |
| Woodlyn | — | 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 Nether Providence 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
- 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 Nether Providence Township
Is Nether Providence Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Nether Providence Township has lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #317 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and earthquakes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Nether Providence Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 17 claims in Nether Providence Township since 1989, $289K in all, or 3.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 50% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (5).
Is Nether Providence 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 Delaware County, 39% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Nether Providence Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Nether Providence 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 Nether Providence Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 5 paid, $97K.
Is Nether Providence Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Nether Providence Township’s rate for it is lower than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Nether Providence Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Nether Providence 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.