Photo: JoeRed · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, South Londonderry Township faces less hazard damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, South Londonderry Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #561 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%), then hurricanes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 2000.
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 South Londonderry 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 South Londonderry Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in South Londonderry Township, and South Londonderry Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 11% (higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #561 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of South Londonderry 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, South Londonderry Township has more expected damage per building than 54% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across South Londonderry Township: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does South Londonderry Township flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 2000
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in South Londonderry Township, from FEMA’s records: 3.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 51% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee5 claims · $66K
- Tropical Storm Ivan1 claim · $16K
South Londonderry 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: Lebanon County.The storms South Londonderry Township remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Lebanon County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching South Londonderry Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20116 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storm Lee, declared for Lebanon County
- 20183 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20002 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Lebanon County has had 15 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 Londonderry Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the South Londonderry Township archive →South Londonderry Township and its neighbors
South Londonderry Township is 4th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conewago Township | A−less damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| West Cornwall Township | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Mount Joy Township | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| South Londonderry Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| North Londonderry Township | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| South Annville Township | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Timber Hills | — | 306 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Campbelltown | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Mount Gretna | — | 208 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 South Londonderry 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 South Londonderry Township
Is South Londonderry Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, South Londonderry Township has lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #561 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and hurricanes (11%). 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 South Londonderry Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in South Londonderry Township since 2000, $163K in all, or 3.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (5).
Is South Londonderry 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 Lebanon County, 29% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in South Londonderry Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for South Londonderry 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 Londonderry Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 5 paid, $66K.
Is South Londonderry Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and South Londonderry Township’s rate for it is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in South Londonderry Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where South Londonderry 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.