Photo: 颐园居 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Philadelphia as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Philadelphia gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #719 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 1,177 claims here since 1978.
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 Philadelphia’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Philadelphia 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
Earthquakes
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 Philadelphia’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Philadelphia, and Philadelphia’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 8% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #719 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Philadelphia’s residents live in 403 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, Philadelphia has more expected damage per building than 69% of Pennsylvania towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Philadelphia has lower expected damage per building than 65% (#141 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $661M, is the 8th largest of those 400.
Does Philadelphia flood? Yes: 1,177 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Philadelphia, from FEMA’s records: 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 68% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Isaias237 claims · $8.8M
- Hurricane Floyd158 claims · $5.5M
- Hurricane Ida109 claims · $17.2M
Philadelphia is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Philadelphia County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Philadelphia
Disasters that paid out in Philadelphia itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Philadelphia), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida54,069 households applied for aid$90.5M aid approved$5.1M to the City of Philadelphia for repairs109 flood claims paid for it, $17.2M
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$5.2M to the City of Philadelphia for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$1.4M to the City of Philadelphia for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$5K to the City of Philadelphia for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee7,760 households applied for aid$5.5M aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene37,469 households applied for aid$26.8M aid approved$557K to the City of Philadelphia for repairs62 flood claims paid for it, $2.7M
Show all 13
- 2010Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms$4.9M to the City of Philadelphia for repairs43 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides2 households applied for aid$3K aid approved25 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Hurricane Katrina$2.8M to the City of Philadelphia for repairs17 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan7,672 households applied for aid$11.8M aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding7,910 households applied for aid$6.7M aid approved
- 2003Snow$4.6M to the City of Philadelphia for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$1.1M to the City of Philadelphia for repairs158 flood claims paid for it, $5.5M
Philadelphia County has had 19 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Philadelphia after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Philadelphia archive →Philadelphia and its neighbors
Philadelphia is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folcroft | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Yeadon | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Lower Merion Township | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 234 |
| Bensalem Township | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 265 |
| Upper Darby Township | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 363 |
| Philadelphia | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 1,177 |
| Tinicum Township | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 309 |
| Colwyn | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 90 |
| Camden | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 321 |
| Andalusia | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Darby Township | — | not graded yet | |
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 Philadelphia 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
- Philadelphia residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Philadelphia
Is Philadelphia at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Philadelphia has lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #719 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and earthquakes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Philadelphia flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,177 claims in Philadelphia since 1978, $46.3M in all, or 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 68% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 133 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Isaias (237).
Is Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia County, 0.3% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Philadelphia?
Philadelphia is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Philadelphia?
By FEMA money that reached Philadelphia, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 54,069 households applied for aid, $90.5M approved, and $5.1M to the City of Philadelphia for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Isaias: 237 paid, $8.8M.
Is Philadelphia at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Philadelphia’s rate for it is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Philadelphia.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Philadelphia’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.