Photo: Dough4872 · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Newtown faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Newtown gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 3 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 Newtown 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 Newtown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Newtown, and Newtown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
B− higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Newtown’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Newtown: $982K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Newtown flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1989
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Newtown, from FEMA’s records: 3.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 52% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd1 claim · $7K
Newtown 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.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Newtown
Disasters that paid out in Newtown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Newtown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida112 households applied for aid$143K aid approved
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee9 households applied for aid$29K aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene33 households applied for aid$46K aid approved
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan3 households applied for aid$935 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 Newtown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Newtown archive →Get ready for what Newtown 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 Newtown
Is Newtown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Newtown has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and earthquakes (6%). 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 Newtown flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Newtown since 1989, $15K in all, or 3.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 52% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (1).
Is Newtown 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 Newtown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Newtown’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 Newtown?
By FEMA money that reached Newtown, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 112 households applied for aid, $143K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 1 paid, $7K.
Is Newtown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Newtown’s rate for it is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Newtown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Newtown’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.