Dyerstown Historic District · Photo: Smallbones · CC0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Plumstead Township than in 78% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Plumstead Township gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns, #433 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). Flood insurance has paid 66 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 Plumstead Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Plumstead 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
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 Plumstead Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Plumstead Township, and Plumstead Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #433 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Plumstead Township’s residents live in 3 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, Plumstead Township has less expected damage per building than 58% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.5M a year in losses across Plumstead Township: $3.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Plumstead Township flood? Sometimes: 66 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Plumstead Township, from FEMA’s records: 12.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan12 claims · $446K
- Tropical Storm Lee7 claims · $134K
- Hurricane Ida6 claims · $550K
Plumstead 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: Bucks County.The storms Plumstead Township remembers
None of the 21 disasters declared for Bucks County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Plumstead Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 200413 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Bucks County
- 201112 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storm Lee, declared for Bucks County
- 200611 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides, declared for Bucks County
Bucks County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Plumstead Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Plumstead Township archive →Plumstead Township and its neighbors
Plumstead Township is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedminster Township | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Buckingham Township | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 53 |
| Plumstead Township | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 66 |
| Doylestown Township | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Solebury Township | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 199 |
| Tinicum Township | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 309 |
| Delaware Township | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 55 |
| Kingwood Township | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 136 |
| Plumsteadville | — | 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 Plumstead 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.
- 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Plumstead Township
Is Plumstead Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Plumstead Township has lower expected damage per building than 78% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #433 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and earthquakes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Plumstead Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 66 claims in Plumstead Township since 1978, $2.7M in all, or 12.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 12 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (12).
Is Plumstead 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 Bucks County, 49% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Plumstead Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Plumstead 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 Plumstead Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 12 paid, $446K.
Is Plumstead Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Plumstead Township’s rate for it is lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Plumstead Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Plumstead 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.