Storms, floods and disasters in Swedeland
Swedeland isn’t graded for hazard risk: Swedeland is a Census area inside a town, graded with the town. Flood insurance has paid 14 claims here since 1979.
What Swedeland 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.
Does Swedeland flood? Sometimes: 14 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Swedeland, from FEMA’s records.
- Hurricane Ida2 claims · $132K
- Hurricane Isaias2 claims · $98K
- Hurricane Irene2 claims · $45K
Swedeland isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Montgomery County.The storms Swedeland remembers
None of the 23 disasters declared for Montgomery County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Swedeland itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19993 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations, declared for Montgomery County
- 20042 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Montgomery County
- 20112 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storm Lee, declared for Montgomery County
Montgomery County has had 23 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Swedeland after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Swedeland archive →Swedeland and its neighbors
How expected damage per building compares across the town line. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth Township | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 339 |
| Upper Merion Township | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 93 |
| West Conshohocken | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| King of Prussia | — | 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 Swedeland 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 Swedeland
Does Swedeland flood?
Flood insurance has paid 14 claims in Swedeland since 1979, $495K in all. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (2).
Is Swedeland 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 Montgomery County, 47% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Swedeland?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Swedeland’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 Swedeland?
By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 2 paid, $132K.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Swedeland.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Swedeland’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.