Photo: Jayu from Harrisburg, PA, U.S.A. · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Palmyra than in 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palmyra gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #254 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%), then hurricanes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 3 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 stands out about Palmyra’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Palmyra 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
Tornadoes
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’s grade
River and rain flooding is 68% of the building damage FEMA expects in Palmyra, and Palmyra’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 80% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 15% (higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts).
A #254 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Palmyra’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, Palmyra has less expected damage per building than 76% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Palmyra: $1.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Palmyra flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Palmyra, from FEMA’s records: 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Palmyra 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.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Palmyra
Disasters that paid out in Palmyra itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Palmyra), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee382 households applied for aid$810K aid approved
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides6 households applied for aid$24K aid approved
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan55 households applied for aid$132K aid approved
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 Palmyra after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Palmyra archive →Palmyra and its neighbors
Palmyra has the lowest expected damage per building of the 3 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmyra | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Derry Township | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 181 |
| North Londonderry Township | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Palmdale | — | 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 Palmyra 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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
Is Palmyra at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palmyra has lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #254 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (68%) and hurricanes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Palmyra flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Palmyra since 1979, $4K in all, or 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Palmyra 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 Palmyra?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Palmyra’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?
By FEMA money that reached Palmyra, Tropical Storm Lee (2011): 382 households applied for aid, $810K approved.
Is Palmyra at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (68%), and Palmyra’s rate for it is lower than 80% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Palmyra.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Palmyra’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.