Nakashima, George, Woodworker Complex · Photo: Shuvaev · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Solebury Township faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Solebury Township gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #828 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 199 claims here since 1978.
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 Solebury Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Solebury 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 Solebury Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Solebury Township, and Solebury Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #828 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Solebury Township’s residents live in 3 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, Solebury Township has more expected damage per building than 80% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.7M a year in losses across Solebury Township: $5.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Solebury Township flood? Yes: 199 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Solebury Township, from FEMA’s records: 52.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan31 claims · $1.7M
- Hurricane Ida20 claims · $833K
- Tropical Storm Lee19 claims · $844K
Solebury 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: Bucks County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Solebury Township
Disasters that paid out in Solebury Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Solebury Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved20 flood claims paid for it, $833K
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee3 households applied for aid$2K aid approved19 flood claims paid for it, $844K
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides1 households applied for aid$4K aid approved41 flood claims paid that year
Bucks County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Solebury Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Solebury Township archive →Solebury Township and its neighbors
Solebury Township is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buckingham Township | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 53 |
| Plumstead Township | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 66 |
| West Amwell Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Upper Makefield Township | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 300 |
| Solebury Township | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 199 |
| Hopewell Township | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 69 |
| Delaware Township | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 55 |
| New Hope | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 329 |
| Lambertville | D−more damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 428 |
| Stockton | — | 446 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 Solebury 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Solebury Township
Is Solebury Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Solebury Township has higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #828 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Solebury Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 199 claims in Solebury Township since 1978, $8.5M in all, or 52.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 42 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (31).
Is Solebury 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 Bucks County, 49% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Solebury Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Solebury 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 Solebury Township?
By FEMA money that reached Solebury Township, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides (2006): 1 households applied for aid, $4K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 31 paid, $1.7M.
Is Solebury Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Solebury Township’s rate for it is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Solebury Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Solebury 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.