Bells Mills Covered Bridge · Photo: Leo A. McMullen, Photographer · Public domainFEMA puts South Huntingdon Township’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 72% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, South Huntingdon Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, #512 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 32 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 South Huntingdon Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What South Huntingdon 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 South Huntingdon Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in South Huntingdon Township, and South Huntingdon Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #512 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns (21,298).
South Huntingdon 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, South Huntingdon Township has less expected damage per building than 51% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across South Huntingdon Township: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does South Huntingdon Township flood? Sometimes: 32 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in South Huntingdon Township, from FEMA’s records: 12.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy1 claim · $3K
South Huntingdon 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: Westmoreland County.The storms South Huntingdon Township remembers
None of the 17 disasters declared for Westmoreland County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching South Huntingdon Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 199611 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Westmoreland County
- 20185 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19784 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Westmoreland County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of South Huntingdon Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the South Huntingdon Township archive →South Huntingdon Township and its neighbors
South Huntingdon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hempfield Township | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 93 |
| East Huntingdon Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| South Huntingdon Township | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Rostraver Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Sewickley Township | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 74 |
| Perry Township | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Lower Tyrone Township | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| West Newton | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 77 |
| Yukon | — | 750 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Smithton | — | 406 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Collinsburg | — | 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 South Huntingdon 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 South Huntingdon Township
Is South Huntingdon Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, South Huntingdon Township has lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #512 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 South Huntingdon Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 32 claims in South Huntingdon Township since 1978, $217K in all, or 12.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (1).
Is South Huntingdon 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 Westmoreland County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in South Huntingdon Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for South Huntingdon 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 South Huntingdon Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 1 paid, $3K.
Is South Huntingdon Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and South Huntingdon Township’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in South Huntingdon Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where South Huntingdon 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.