Photo: Nyttend · Public domainFEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Pine Township than almost anywhere in the U.S., mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pine Township gets an A+ for hazard risk: among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns, #8 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 26 claims here since 1981.
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 Pine Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Pine 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
Tornadoes
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 Pine Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Pine Township, and Pine Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 92% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 6% (lower than 60% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #8 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).
Pine 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, Pine Township has less expected damage per building than 99% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.5M a year in losses across Pine Township: $2.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Pine Township flood? Sometimes: 26 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Pine Township, from FEMA’s records: 4.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan9 claims · $177K
- Hurricane Debby2 claims · $240K
- Tropical Storm Lee1 claim · $2K
Pine 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: Allegheny County.The storms Pine Township remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Allegheny County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Pine Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 200410 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Allegheny County
- 19966 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Allegheny County
- 19843 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Allegheny County
Allegheny County has had 15 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 Pine Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Pine Township archive →Pine Township and its neighbors
Pine Township has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pine Township | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| McCandless Township | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 35 |
| Richland Township | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Marshall Township | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
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 Pine 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 Pine Township
Is Pine Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pine Township has among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #8 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) and tornadoes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Pine Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 26 claims in Pine Township since 1981, $573K in all, or 4.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (9).
Is Pine 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 Allegheny County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Pine Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Pine 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 Pine Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 9 paid, $177K.
Is Pine Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Pine Township’s rate for it is lower than 92% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Pine Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Pine 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.