Photo: Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page, my Commons user talk page, or my English Wikipedia user talk page; I'll know about it a lot faster) · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Shohola Township faces less hazard damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shohola Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #601 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2004.
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 Shohola 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 Shohola Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Shohola Township, and Shohola Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
B #601 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Shohola 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, Shohola Township has more expected damage per building than 58% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $994K a year in losses across Shohola Township: $826K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Shohola Township flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2004
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Shohola Township, from FEMA’s records: 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Shohola 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: Pike County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Shohola Township
Disasters that paid out in Shohola Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Shohola Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides4 households applied for aid$9K aid approved
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan12 households applied for aid$21K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
Pike County has had 13 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 Shohola Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Shohola Township archive →Shohola Township and its neighbors
Shohola Township is 3rd of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blooming Grove Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Dingman Township | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Shohola Township | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Lackawaxen Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Lumberland | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Highland | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Milford Township | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Westfall Township | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 68 |
| Barryville | — | 461 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 Shohola 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 Shohola Township
Is Shohola Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shohola Township has lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #601 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and hurricanes (6%). 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 Shohola Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Shohola Township since 2004, $6K in all, or 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Shohola 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 Pike County, 12% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Shohola Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Shohola 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 Shohola Township?
By FEMA money that reached Shohola Township, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 12 households applied for aid, $21K approved.
Is Shohola Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Shohola Township’s rate for it is higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Shohola Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Shohola 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.