Hopwood-Miller Tavern · Photo: Smallbones · CC0FEMA puts South Union Township’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, South Union Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #219 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 39 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 Union Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What South Union 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
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 South Union Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in South Union Township, and South Union Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 66% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 5% (lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts).
A #219 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
South Union 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, South Union Township has less expected damage per building than 79% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across South Union Township: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does South Union Township flood? Sometimes: 39 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in South Union Township, from FEMA’s records: 8.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
South Union 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: Fayette County.The storms South Union Township remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Fayette County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching South Union Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19786 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19904 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20194 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Fayette County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of South Union Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the South Union Township archive →South Union Township and its neighbors
South Union Township has the lowest expected damage per building of the 7 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Union Township | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
| Wharton Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| North Union Township | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Georges Township | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Uniontown | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 97 |
| Menallen Township | B−less damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| German Township | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Leith-Hatfield | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| South Uniontown | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| East Uniontown | — | 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 Union 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.
- 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 South Union Township
Is South Union Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, South Union Township has lower expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #219 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and tornadoes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does South Union Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 39 claims in South Union Township since 1978, $572K in all, or 8.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once.
Is South Union 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 Fayette County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in South Union Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for South Union Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is South Union Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and South Union Township’s rate for it is lower than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in South Union Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where South Union 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.