Photo: Dough4872 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Pottstown’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 60% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pottstown gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #841 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 191 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 Pottstown’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Pottstown 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 Pottstown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Pottstown, and Pottstown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #841 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Pottstown’s residents live in 8 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, Pottstown has more expected damage per building than 81% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.0M a year in losses across Pottstown: $6.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Pottstown flood? Yes: 191 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Pottstown, from FEMA’s records: 18.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Isaias9 claims · $92K
- Tropical Storm Lee5 claims · $124K
Pottstown isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Montgomery County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Pottstown
Disasters that paid out in Pottstown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Pottstown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida388 households applied for aid$414K aid approved4 flood claims paid for it, $20K
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee45 households applied for aid$57K aid approved5 flood claims paid for it, $124K
- 2011Hurricane Irene119 households applied for aid$168K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $5K
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides217 households applied for aid$314K aid approved64 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan2 households applied for aid$13K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$8K aid approved
Show all 7
- 2003Tropical Storms Henri and Isabel and Related Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$5K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
Montgomery County has had 23 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 Pottstown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Pottstown archive →Pottstown and its neighbors
Pottstown is 5th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Pottsgrove Township | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| North Coventry Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 181 |
| Lower Pottsgrove Township | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| West Pottsgrove Township | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Pottstown | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 191 |
| South Pottstown | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Stowe | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Pottsgrove | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Kenilworth | — | 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 Pottstown 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 Pottstown
Is Pottstown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pottstown has higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #841 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Pottstown flood?
Flood insurance has paid 191 claims in Pottstown since 1978, $3.1M in all, or 18.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 23 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Isaias (9).
Is Pottstown 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 Montgomery County, 47% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Pottstown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Pottstown’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 Pottstown?
By FEMA money that reached Pottstown, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 388 households applied for aid, $414K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Isaias: 9 paid, $92K.
Is Pottstown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Pottstown’s rate for it is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Pottstown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Pottstown’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.