Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Schuylkill Haven than in 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Schuylkill Haven gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #968 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 76 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 Schuylkill Haven 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 Schuylkill Haven’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Schuylkill Haven, and Schuylkill Haven’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #968 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Schuylkill Haven’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, Schuylkill Haven has more expected damage per building than 93% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.0M a year in losses across Schuylkill Haven: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Schuylkill Haven flood? Sometimes: 76 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Schuylkill Haven, from FEMA’s records: 27.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee3 claims · $41K
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $4K
- Hurricane Floyd1 claim · $803
Schuylkill Haven 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.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Schuylkill Haven
Disasters that paid out in Schuylkill Haven itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Schuylkill Haven), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee16 households applied for aid$15K aid approved3 flood claims paid for it, $41K
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides178 households applied for aid$322K aid approved56 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan10 households applied for aid$57K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $179K
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 Schuylkill Haven after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Schuylkill Haven archive →Schuylkill Haven and its neighbors
Schuylkill Haven is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Manheim Township | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Cressona | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| South Manheim Township | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Schuylkill Haven | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 76 |
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 Schuylkill Haven 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 Schuylkill Haven
Is Schuylkill Haven at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Schuylkill Haven has higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #968 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). 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 Schuylkill Haven flood?
Flood insurance has paid 76 claims in Schuylkill Haven since 1979, $2.2M in all, or 27.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (3).
Is Schuylkill Haven 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 Schuylkill Haven?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Schuylkill Haven’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 Schuylkill Haven?
By FEMA money that reached Schuylkill Haven, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides (2006): 178 households applied for aid, $322K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 3 paid, $41K.
Is Schuylkill Haven at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Schuylkill Haven’s rate for it is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Schuylkill Haven.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Schuylkill Haven’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.