Photo: Paul Comstock · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Royalton as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Royalton gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 80 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 Royalton’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Royalton 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 Royalton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Royalton, and Royalton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts).
B− higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Royalton’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $449K a year in losses across Royalton: $367K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Royalton flood? Sometimes: 80 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Royalton, from FEMA’s records: 159.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee43 claims · $1.1M
- Tropical Storm Ivan15 claims · $126K
Royalton is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Dauphin County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Royalton
Disasters that paid out in Royalton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Royalton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan3 households applied for aid$2K aid approved15 flood claims paid for it, $126K
Dauphin County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Royalton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Royalton archive →Royalton and its neighbors
Royalton is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Londonderry Township | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 224 |
| Royalton | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 80 |
| Middletown | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 340 |
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 Royalton 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.
- Royalton residents get 05% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Royalton
Is Royalton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Royalton has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and hurricanes (8%). 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 Royalton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 80 claims in Royalton since 1979, $1.4M in all, or 159.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 18 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (43).
Is Royalton 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 Dauphin County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Royalton?
Royalton is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9), which takes 05% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Royalton?
By FEMA money that reached Royalton, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 3 households applied for aid, $2K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 43 paid, $1.1M.
Is Royalton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Royalton’s rate for it is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Royalton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Royalton’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.