Photo: Andrew Shansby from Hyattsville, United States · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Ralpho Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ralpho Township gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #728 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 47 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 Ralpho 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
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 Ralpho Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ralpho Township, and Ralpho Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #728 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Ralpho Township’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Pennsylvania town has lower expected damage than 71% of U.S. towns; within the state, Ralpho Township has more expected damage per building than 70% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Ralpho Township: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ralpho Township flood? Sometimes: 47 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ralpho Township, from FEMA’s records: 25.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee17 claims · $918K
Ralpho 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: Northumberland County.The storms Ralpho Township remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Northumberland County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Ralpho Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 201117 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storm Lee, declared for Northumberland County
- 200616 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides, declared for Northumberland County
- 19968 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Northumberland County
Northumberland County has had 15 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 Ralpho Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ralpho Township archive →Ralpho Township and its neighbors
Ralpho Township is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shamokin Township | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Ralpho Township | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 47 |
| Coal Township | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Cleveland Township | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Rush Township | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Franklin Township | — | 524 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Mayberry Township | — | 243 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Ralpho 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.
- 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 Ralpho Township
Is Ralpho Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ralpho Township has lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #728 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) and hurricanes (6%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ralpho Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 47 claims in Ralpho Township since 1978, $1.7M in all, or 25.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 9 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (17).
Is Ralpho 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 Northumberland County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Ralpho Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ralpho 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 Ralpho Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 17 paid, $918K.
Is Ralpho Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Ralpho Township’s rate for it is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ralpho Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ralpho 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.