Gloninger Estate · Photo: Smallbones · CC0FEMA puts North Cornwall Township’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, North Cornwall Township gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #873 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 43 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 North Cornwall 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
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 North Cornwall Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in North Cornwall Township, and North Cornwall Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #873 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
North Cornwall Township’s residents live in 2 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, North Cornwall Township has more expected damage per building than 84% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.4M a year in losses across North Cornwall Township: $2.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does North Cornwall Township flood? Sometimes: 43 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in North Cornwall Township, from FEMA’s records: 11.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee17 claims · $1.1M
- Tropical Storm Ivan1 claim · $10K
North Cornwall 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: Lebanon County.The storms North Cornwall Township remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Lebanon County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching North Cornwall Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 201118 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storm Lee, declared for Lebanon County
- 20187 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19796 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Lebanon 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 North Cornwall Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the North Cornwall Township archive →North Cornwall Township and its neighbors
North Cornwall 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Lebanon Township | A−less damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| West Cornwall Township | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Cornwall | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Lebanon | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 342 |
| North Cornwall Township | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Cleona | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Pleasant Hill | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| West Lebanon Township | — | 827 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 North Cornwall 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.
- 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 North Cornwall Township
Is North Cornwall Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, North Cornwall Township has higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #873 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and hurricanes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does North Cornwall Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 43 claims in North Cornwall Township since 1978, $1.3M in all, or 11.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (17).
Is North Cornwall 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 Lebanon County, 29% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in North Cornwall Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for North Cornwall 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 North Cornwall Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 17 paid, $1.1M.
Is North Cornwall Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and North Cornwall Township’s rate for it is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in North Cornwall Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where North Cornwall 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.