Photo: Apc106 · CC BY-SA 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Palmyra Township than in 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palmyra Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #269 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 5 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 Palmyra 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 Palmyra Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Palmyra Township, and Palmyra Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts).
A #269 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Palmyra 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, Palmyra Township has less expected damage per building than 74% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Palmyra Township: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Palmyra Township flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 2004
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Palmyra Township, from FEMA’s records: 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan1 claim · $2K
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $4K
Palmyra 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: Pike County.The storms Palmyra Township remembers
None of the 13 disasters declared for Pike County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Palmyra Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20062 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides, declared for Pike County
- 20041 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Pike County
- 20051 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Pike County
Pike County has had 13 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Palmyra Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Palmyra Township archive →Palmyra Township and its neighbors
Palmyra Township is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Blooming Grove Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Paupack Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Palmyra Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Greene Township | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Lackawaxen Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Palmyra Township | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hawley | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Wallenpaupack Lake Estates | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| The Escape | — | 416 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 Palmyra 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 Palmyra Township
Is Palmyra Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palmyra Township has lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #269 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Palmyra Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Palmyra Township since 2004, $21K in all, or 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (1).
Is Palmyra 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 Pike County, 12% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Palmyra Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Palmyra 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 Palmyra Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 1 paid, $2K.
Is Palmyra Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Palmyra Township’s rate for it is lower than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Palmyra Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Palmyra 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.