Photo: Lee Paxton · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Shaler Township faces less hazard damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shaler Township gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, #347 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 228 claims here since 1980.
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 Shaler Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Shaler 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 Shaler Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Shaler Township, and Shaler Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #347 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Shaler Township’s residents live in 6 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, Shaler Township has less expected damage per building than 67% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.3M a year in losses across Shaler Township: $4.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Shaler Township flood? Yes: 228 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Shaler Township, from FEMA’s records: 17.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan83 claims · $3.0M
- Hurricane Ida5 claims · $77K
Shaler Township is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Allegheny County.The storms Shaler Township remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Allegheny County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Shaler Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 2004110 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Allegheny County
- 198624 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Allegheny County
- 200712 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Allegheny County has had 15 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 Shaler Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Shaler Township archive →Shaler Township and its neighbors
Shaler Township is 3rd of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hampton Township | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 89 |
| Ross Township | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 169 |
| Shaler Township | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 228 |
| O'Hara Township | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Pittsburgh | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 447 |
| Reserve Township | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Etna | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 239 |
| Millvale | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 252 |
| Sharpsburg | D−more damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 78 |
| Allison Park | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Glenshaw | — | 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 Shaler 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.
- Shaler Township residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Shaler Township
Is Shaler Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shaler Township has lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #347 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 Shaler Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 228 claims in Shaler Township since 1980, $4.1M in all, or 17.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 18 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (83).
Is Shaler 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 Allegheny County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Shaler Township?
Shaler Township is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% 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 Shaler Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 83 paid, $3.0M.
Is Shaler Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Shaler Township’s rate for it is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Shaler Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Shaler 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.