Church Hill Farm · Photo: Smallbones · CC0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Peters Township than in 78% 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 78% of U.S. towns, #414 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). Flood insurance has paid 19 claims here since 1996.
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 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
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 Peters Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Peters Township, and Peters Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 10% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #414 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Peters 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, Peters Township has less expected damage per building than 60% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Peters Township: $952K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Peters Township flood? Sometimes: 19 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Peters Township, from FEMA’s records: 9.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan2 claims · $22K
- 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: Franklin County.The storms Peters Township remembers
None of the 16 disasters declared for Franklin County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Peters Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20174 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20213 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19962 flood claims paidThe year of Flooding, Severe Storms, declared for Franklin County
Franklin County has had 16 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 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 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayr Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Todd Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Antrim Township | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Mercersburg | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Peters Township | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Montgomery Township | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Metal Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| St. Thomas Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Warren Township | — | 372 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Fort Loudon | — | 854 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 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.
- 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 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 78% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #414 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and hurricanes (10%). 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 Peters Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 19 claims in Peters Township since 1996, $328K in all, or 9.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (2).
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 Franklin County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% 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: 2 paid, $22K.
Is Peters Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Peters Township’s rate for it is lower than 56% 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.