Photo: Generic1139 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Peters Township than in 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Peters Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #147 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 20 claims here since 1997.
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 Peters Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Peters 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 Peters Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Peters Township, and Peters Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
A #147 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Peters Township’s residents live in 4 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, Peters Township has less expected damage per building than 86% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.5M a year in losses across Peters Township: $4.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Peters Township flood? Sometimes: 20 flood claims since 1997
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Peters Township, from FEMA’s records: 2.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 58% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan4 claims · $121K
- Hurricane Ida1 claim · $21K
Peters 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 Peters Township remembers
None of the 11 disasters declared for Washington County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Peters Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20175 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20044 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Washington County
- 20213 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 Peters Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Peters Township archive →Peters Township and its neighbors
Peters Township is 3rd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel Park | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 70 |
| Upper St. Clair Township | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| 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 |
| Nottingham Township | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Union Township | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Lawrence | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Thompsonville | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Gastonville | — | 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 Peters 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 Peters Township
Is Peters Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Peters Township has lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #147 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Peters Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 20 claims in Peters Township since 1997, $471K in all, or 2.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 58% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (4).
Is Peters 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 Peters Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Peters 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 Peters Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 4 paid, $121K.
Is Peters Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Peters Township’s rate for it is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Peters Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Peters 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.