Photo: Ele boz · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Phoenixville faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Phoenixville gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #784 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 49 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 Phoenixville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Phoenixville 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 Phoenixville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Phoenixville, and Phoenixville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #784 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Phoenixville’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, Phoenixville has more expected damage per building than 76% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.8M a year in losses across Phoenixville: $4.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Phoenixville flood? Sometimes: 49 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Phoenixville, from FEMA’s records: 5.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd16 claims · $615K
- Hurricane Ida7 claims · $997K
- Hurricane Irene3 claims · $95K
Phoenixville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Chester County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Phoenixville
Disasters that paid out in Phoenixville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Phoenixville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida272 households applied for aid$651K aid approved7 flood claims paid for it, $997K
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee7 households applied for aid$6K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $9K
- 2011Hurricane Irene45 households applied for aid$53K aid approved3 flood claims paid for it, $95K
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides25 households applied for aid$32K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan5 households applied for aid$14K aid approved
- 2003Tropical Storms Henri and Isabel and Related Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$4K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
Chester County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Phoenixville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Phoenixville archive →Phoenixville and its neighbors
Phoenixville is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schuylkill Township | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| East Pikeland Township | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Upper Providence Township | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 418 |
| Phoenixville | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 49 |
| Mont Clare | — | 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 Phoenixville 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 Phoenixville
Is Phoenixville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Phoenixville has higher expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #784 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 Phoenixville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 49 claims in Phoenixville since 1978, $2.1M in all, or 5.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (16).
Is Phoenixville 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 Chester County, 40% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Phoenixville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Phoenixville’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 Phoenixville?
By FEMA money that reached Phoenixville, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 272 households applied for aid, $651K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 16 paid, $615K.
Is Phoenixville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Phoenixville’s rate for it is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Phoenixville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Phoenixville’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.