Photo: Doug Kerr · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA puts New London Township’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New London Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #516 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 3 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 New London 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 New London Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in New London Township, and New London Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #516 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of New London Township’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Pennsylvania town has lower expected damage than 71% of U.S. towns; within the state, New London Township has less expected damage per building than 50% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.4M a year in losses across New London Township: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does New London Township flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in New London Township, from FEMA’s records: 1.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 69% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
New London 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 London Township remembers
None of the 21 disasters declared for Chester County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching New London Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19781 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19791 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19851 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 London Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the New London Township archive →New London Township and its neighbors
New London Township is 5th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Oxford Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Penn Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| East Nottingham Township | A−less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Elk Township | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| New London Township | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Franklin Township | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
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 London 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 New London Township
Is New London Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New London Township has lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #516 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does New London Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in New London Township since 1978, $6K in all, or 1.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 69% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is New London 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 London Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for New London Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is New London Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and New London Township’s rate for it is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in New London Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where New London 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.