Photo: Generic1139 · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, North Strabane Township faces less hazard damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, North Strabane Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, #165 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 2004.
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 Strabane 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 North Strabane Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in North Strabane Township, and North Strabane Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
A #165 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).
North Strabane Township’s residents live in 3 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 Strabane Township has less expected damage per building than 84% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.9M a year in losses across North Strabane Township: $2.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does North Strabane Township flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 2004
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in North Strabane Township, from FEMA’s records: 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan2 claims · $56K
North Strabane 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: Washington County.The storms North Strabane Township remembers
None of the 11 disasters declared for Washington County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching North Strabane Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20042 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Washington County
- 20101 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20171 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Washington County has had 11 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 Strabane Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the North Strabane Township archive →North Strabane Township and its neighbors
North Strabane Township is 3rd of the 8 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 Strabane Township | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Peters Township | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| North Strabane Township | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Cecil Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
| Chartiers Township | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Nottingham Township | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Canonsburg | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Houston | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 64 |
| Strabane | — | 605 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Thompsonville | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Southpointe | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Strabane 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 North Strabane Township
Is North Strabane Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, North Strabane Township has lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #165 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does North Strabane Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in North Strabane Township since 2004, $107K in all, or 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (2).
Is North Strabane 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 Washington County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in North Strabane Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for North Strabane 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 Strabane Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 2 paid, $56K.
Is North Strabane Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and North Strabane Township’s rate for it is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in North Strabane Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where North Strabane 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.