Photo: Smallbones · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Oley Township faces less hazard damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oley Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #617 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 14 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 Oley 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
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 Oley Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Oley Township, and Oley Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 9% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
B #617 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Oley 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, Oley Township has more expected damage per building than 59% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Oley Township: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Oley Township flood? Sometimes: 14 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Oley Township, from FEMA’s records: 8.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Isaias4 claims · $81K
Oley 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: Berks County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Oley Township
Disasters that paid out in Oley Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Oley Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee3 households applied for aid$318 aid approved
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides2 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
Berks County has had 19 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 Oley Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Oley Township archive →Oley Township and its neighbors
Oley Township is 7th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruscombmanor Township | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Alsace Township | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Rockland Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Pike Township | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Exeter Township | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 295 |
| Earl Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 45 |
| Oley Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Amity Township | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
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 Oley 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.
- 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 Oley Township
Is Oley Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oley Township has lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #617 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and hurricanes (9%). 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 Oley Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 14 claims in Oley Township since 1979, $243K in all, or 8.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Isaias (4).
Is Oley 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 Berks County, 34% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Oley Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Oley 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 Oley Township?
By FEMA money that reached Oley Township, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides (2006): 2 households applied for aid, $2K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Isaias: 4 paid, $81K.
Is Oley Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Oley Township’s rate for it is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Oley Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Oley 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.