Photo: Smallbones · Public domainFEMA puts Schuylkill Township’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 79% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Schuylkill Township gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns, #407 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 34 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 Schuylkill Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Schuylkill 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 Schuylkill Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Schuylkill Township, and Schuylkill Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 5% (higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #407 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Schuylkill 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, Schuylkill Township has less expected damage per building than 61% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.3M a year in losses across Schuylkill Township: $2.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Schuylkill Township flood? Sometimes: 34 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Schuylkill Township, from FEMA’s records: 10.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd15 claims · $293K
- Hurricane Ida5 claims · $123K
Schuylkill 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: Chester County.The storms Schuylkill Township remembers
None of the 21 disasters declared for Chester County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Schuylkill Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 199915 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations, declared for Chester County
- 20215 flood claims paidThe year of Remnants of Hurricane Ida, declared for Chester County
- 20064 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides, declared for Chester County
Chester County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Schuylkill Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Schuylkill Township archive →Schuylkill Township and its neighbors
Schuylkill Township is 4th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlestown Township | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Lower Providence Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 171 |
| Tredyffrin Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 79 |
| Schuylkill Township | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Upper Providence Township | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 418 |
| Upper Merion Township | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 93 |
| Phoenixville | B−more damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 49 |
| Oaks | — | 943 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Mont Clare | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 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 Schuylkill Township
Is Schuylkill Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Schuylkill Township has lower expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #407 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Schuylkill Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 34 claims in Schuylkill Township since 1979, $720K in all, or 10.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (15).
Is Schuylkill 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 Chester County, 40% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Schuylkill Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Schuylkill 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 Schuylkill Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 15 paid, $293K.
Is Schuylkill Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Schuylkill Township’s rate for it is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Schuylkill Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Schuylkill 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.