Photo: Photo by and (c)2006 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) · CC BY-SA 2.5FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Penn Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Penn Township gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns, #758 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%), then hurricanes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2011.
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 Penn 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 Penn Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Penn Township, and Penn Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 12% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #758 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Penn Township’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, Penn Township has more expected damage per building than 73% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.4M a year in losses across Penn Township: $2.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Penn Township flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2011
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Penn Township, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee1 claim · $14K
Penn 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: Lancaster County.The storms Penn Township remembers
None of the 18 disasters declared for Lancaster County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Penn Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20111 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storm Lee, declared for Lancaster County
- 20251 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Lancaster County has had 18 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 Penn Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Penn Township archive →Penn Township and its neighbors
Penn Township is 8th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Lebanon Township | A−less damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Elizabeth Township | A−less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Cornwall | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Warwick Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| East Hempfield Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 63 |
| Manheim Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 49 |
| Rapho Township | B−less damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Penn Township | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Manheim | Dmore damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 151 |
| Penryn | — | 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 Penn 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 Penn Township
Is Penn Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Penn Township has higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #758 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and hurricanes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Penn Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Penn Township since 2011, $51K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (1).
Is Penn 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 Lancaster County, 27% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Penn Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Penn 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 Penn Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 1 paid, $14K.
Is Penn Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Penn Township’s rate for it is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Penn Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Penn 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.