Brier Hill · Photo: Nyttend · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Redstone Township faces more hazard damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Redstone Township gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns, #852 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 22 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 Redstone 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
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 Redstone Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Redstone Township, and Redstone Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #852 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Redstone 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, Redstone Township has more expected damage per building than 82% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Redstone Township: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Redstone Township flood? Sometimes: 22 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Redstone Township, from FEMA’s records: 8.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy1 claim · $2K
Redstone 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: Fayette County.The storms Redstone Township remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Fayette County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Redstone Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19857 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Fayette County
- 19786 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20173 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Fayette County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Redstone Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Redstone Township archive →Redstone Township and its neighbors
Redstone Township is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Menallen Township | B−less damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Redstone Township | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Luzerne Township | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Jefferson Township | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Republic | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Allison | — | 573 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Brownsville Township | — | 539 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Hiller | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Rowes Run | — | 449 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Smock | — | 564 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 Redstone 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.
- 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 Redstone Township
Is Redstone Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Redstone Township has higher expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #852 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Redstone Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 22 claims in Redstone Township since 1978, $106K in all, or 8.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (1).
Is Redstone 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 Fayette County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Redstone Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Redstone 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 Redstone Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 1 paid, $2K.
Is Redstone Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Redstone Township’s rate for it is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Redstone Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Redstone 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.