Photo: Shuvaev · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, North Manheim Township faces less hazard damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, North Manheim Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #600 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 1983.
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 Manheim 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 Manheim Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in North Manheim Township, and North Manheim Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
B #600 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of North Manheim 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, North Manheim Township has more expected damage per building than 58% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across North Manheim Township: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does North Manheim Township flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in North Manheim Township, from FEMA’s records: 5.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee4 claims · $27K
- Hurricane Sandy1 claim · $14K
North Manheim 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: Schuylkill County.The storms North Manheim Township remembers
None of the 20 disasters declared for Schuylkill County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching North Manheim Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20114 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storm Lee, declared for Schuylkill County
- 20062 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Schuylkill County
- 19831 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Schuylkill County has had 20 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of North Manheim Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the North Manheim Township archive →North Manheim Township and its neighbors
North Manheim Township is 5th of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orwigsburg | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Branch Township | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Norwegian Township | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Cressona | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| North Manheim Township | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| West Brunswick Township | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| South Manheim Township | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Pottsville | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Schuylkill Haven | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 76 |
| Mount Carbon | — | 69 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Landingville | — | 208 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 Manheim 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 Manheim Township
Is North Manheim Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, North Manheim Township has lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #600 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (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 North Manheim Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in North Manheim Township since 1983, $95K in all, or 5.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (4).
Is North Manheim 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 Schuylkill County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in North Manheim Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for North Manheim 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 Manheim Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 4 paid, $27K.
Is North Manheim Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and North Manheim Township’s rate for it is higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in North Manheim Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where North Manheim 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.