Photo: Nicholas · CC BY 2.0On FEMA’s figures, few U.S. towns expect less hazard damage per building than Rush Township, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rush Township gets an A+ for hazard risk: among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns, #24 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%), then hurricanes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 32 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 Rush Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Rush 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
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 Rush Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rush Township, and Rush Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 93% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 11% (higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #24 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Rush 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, Rush Township has less expected damage per building than 98% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $708K a year in losses across Rush Township: $515K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rush Township flood? Sometimes: 32 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rush Township, from FEMA’s records: 22.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan7 claims · $78K
- Tropical Storm Lee4 claims · $97K
- Hurricane Debby1 claim · $537
Rush 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: Schuylkill County.The storms Rush Township remembers
None of the 20 disasters declared for Schuylkill County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Rush Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20047 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Schuylkill County
- 19964 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Schuylkill County
- 20114 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storm Lee, declared for Schuylkill County
Schuylkill County has had 20 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 Rush Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rush Township archive →Rush Township and its neighbors
Rush Township is 2nd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kline Township | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | — |
| Rush Township | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Ryan Township | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Packer Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Delano Township | — | 205 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Grier City | — | 167 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 Rush 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.
- 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 Rush Township
Is Rush Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rush Township has among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #24 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and hurricanes (11%). 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 Rush Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 32 claims in Rush Township since 1978, $440K in all, or 22.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (7).
Is Rush 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 Schuylkill County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Rush Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rush 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 Rush Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 7 paid, $78K.
Is Rush Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Rush Township’s rate for it is lower than 93% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rush Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rush 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.