Newville Historic District · Photo: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Newville’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Newville gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%), then hurricanes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1979.
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 Newville 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
Hurricanes
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 Newville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in Newville, and Newville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 83% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 13% (higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Newville’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $214K a year in losses across Newville: $169K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Newville flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Newville, from FEMA’s records: 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan1 claim · $50K
Newville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cumberland County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Newville
Disasters that paid out in Newville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Newville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee3 households applied for aid$127 aid approved
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan6 households applied for aid$2K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $50K
Cumberland County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Newville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Newville archive →Newville and its neighbors
Newville has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newville | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| North Newton Township | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| West Pennsboro Township | A−less damage than 76% | 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 Newville 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.
- 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.
- 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 Newville
Is Newville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Newville has lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%) and hurricanes (13%). 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 Newville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Newville since 1979, $56K in all, or 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (1).
Is Newville 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 Cumberland County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Newville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Newville’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 Newville?
By FEMA money that reached Newville, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 6 households applied for aid, $2K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 1 paid, $50K.
Is Newville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and Newville’s rate for it is lower than 83% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Newville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Newville’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.