Photo: Smallbones · Public domainFEMA expects less hazard damage per building in New Garden Township than in 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Garden Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #282 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 2003.
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 New Garden 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
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 New Garden Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in New Garden Township, and New Garden Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 7% (higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts).
A #282 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
New Garden 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, New Garden Township has less expected damage per building than 73% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.2M a year in losses across New Garden Township: $3.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does New Garden Township flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 2003
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in New Garden Township, from FEMA’s records: 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Isabel1 claim · $2K
- Hurricane Isaias1 claim · $3K
New Garden 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: Chester County.The storms New Garden Township remembers
None of the 21 disasters declared for Chester County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching New Garden Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20032 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storms Henri and Isabel and Related Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Chester County
- 20202 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Chester County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of New Garden Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the New Garden Township archive →New Garden Township and its neighbors
New Garden Township has the lowest expected damage per building of the 7 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Garden Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| East Marlborough Township | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Franklin Township | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Kennett Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| London Grove Township | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Avondale | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| London Britain Township | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
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 New Garden 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.
- 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 New Garden Township
Is New Garden Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Garden Township has lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #282 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and earthquakes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does New Garden Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in New Garden Township since 2003, $30K in all, or 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Isabel (1).
Is New Garden 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 Chester County, 40% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in New Garden Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for New Garden 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 New Garden Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Isabel: 1 paid, $2K.
Is New Garden Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and New Garden Township’s rate for it is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in New Garden Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where New Garden 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.