Photo: Lucius Kwok · CC BY 2.5On FEMA’s figures, Radnor Township faces less hazard damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Radnor Township gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #91 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%). Flood insurance has paid 103 claims here since 1979.
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 Radnor Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Radnor 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
Hurricanes
Earthquakes
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 Radnor Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Radnor Township, and Radnor Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 85% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #91 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Radnor Township’s residents live in 6 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, Radnor Township has less expected damage per building than 91% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.6M a year in losses across Radnor Township: $6.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Radnor Township flood? Yes: 103 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Radnor Township, from FEMA’s records: 10.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd13 claims · $47K
- Hurricane Irene8 claims · $61K
- Hurricane Isaias3 claims · $145K
Radnor 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: Delaware County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Radnor Township
Disasters that paid out in Radnor Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Radnor Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan1 households applied for aid$5K aid approved12 flood claims paid that year
Delaware County has had 19 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Radnor Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Radnor Township archive →Radnor Township and its neighbors
Radnor Township is 3rd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newtown Township | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Marple Township | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Radnor Township | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 103 |
| Haverford Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 139 |
| Tredyffrin Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 79 |
| Lower Merion Township | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 234 |
| Upper Merion Township | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 93 |
| Wayne | — | 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 Radnor 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.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Radnor Township
Is Radnor Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Radnor Township has lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #91 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Radnor Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 103 claims in Radnor Township since 1979, $1.3M in all, or 10.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 19 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (13).
Is Radnor 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 Delaware County, 39% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Radnor Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Radnor 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 Radnor Township?
By FEMA money that reached Radnor Township, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 1 households applied for aid, $5K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 13 paid, $47K.
Is Radnor Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Radnor Township’s rate for it is lower than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Radnor Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Radnor 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.