Photo: Ugen64 at English Wikipedia · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Swarthmore faces less hazard damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Swarthmore gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #298 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%). Flood insurance has paid 13 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 Swarthmore 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
Earthquakes
Hurricanes
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 Swarthmore’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Swarthmore, and Swarthmore’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 8% (higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts).
A #298 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Swarthmore’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, Swarthmore has less expected damage per building than 71% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Swarthmore: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Swarthmore flood? Sometimes: 13 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Swarthmore, from FEMA’s records: 6.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Isaias2 claims · $30K
- Hurricane Floyd1 claim · $4K
Swarthmore isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Delaware County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Swarthmore
Disasters that paid out in Swarthmore itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Swarthmore), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida31 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee2 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene11 households applied for aid$14K aid approved
Delaware County has had 19 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Swarthmore after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Swarthmore archive →Swarthmore and its neighbors
Swarthmore is 2nd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield Township | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 123 |
| Swarthmore | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Nether Providence Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Ridley Township | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 85 |
| Folsom | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Woodlyn | — | 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 Swarthmore 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
- 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 Swarthmore
Is Swarthmore at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Swarthmore has lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #298 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and earthquakes (8%). 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 Swarthmore flood?
Flood insurance has paid 13 claims in Swarthmore since 1978, $117K in all, or 6.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Isaias (2).
Is Swarthmore 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 Delaware County, 39% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Swarthmore?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Swarthmore’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 Swarthmore?
By FEMA money that reached Swarthmore, Hurricane Irene (2011): 11 households applied for aid, $14K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Isaias: 2 paid, $30K.
Is Swarthmore at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Swarthmore’s rate for it is lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Swarthmore.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Swarthmore’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.