Less hazard damage per building is expected in Sharon Hill than in 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sharon Hill gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #298 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%), then earthquakes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2020.
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 Sharon Hill 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
Earthquakes
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 Sharon Hill’s grade
River and rain flooding is 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sharon Hill, and Sharon Hill’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 1%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
A #298 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Sharon Hill’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, Sharon Hill has less expected damage per building than 71% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Sharon Hill: $959K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Sharon Hill flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2020
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sharon Hill, from FEMA’s records: 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 90% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Isaias1 claim · $17K
Sharon Hill isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Delaware County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Sharon Hill
Disasters that paid out in Sharon Hill itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Sharon Hill), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida376 households applied for aid$548K aid approved
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee44 households applied for aid$42K aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene339 households applied for aid$252K aid approved
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan15 households applied for aid$32K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding14 households applied for aid$14K aid approved
Delaware County has had 19 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Sharon Hill after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Sharon Hill archive →Sharon Hill and its neighbors
Sharon Hill is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collingdale | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
| Folcroft | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Sharon Hill | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Colwyn | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 90 |
| Darby Township | — | not graded yet | |
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 Sharon Hill 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Sharon Hill
Is Sharon Hill at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sharon Hill has lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #298 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%) and earthquakes (14%). 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 Sharon Hill flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Sharon Hill since 2020, $17K in all, or 0.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 90% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Isaias (1).
Is Sharon Hill 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 Delaware County, 39% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Sharon Hill?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sharon Hill’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 Sharon Hill?
By FEMA money that reached Sharon Hill, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 376 households applied for aid, $548K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Isaias: 1 paid, $17K.
Is Sharon Hill at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Sharon Hill’s rate for it is lower than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sharon Hill.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sharon Hill’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.