Dusmal House · Photo: Generic1139 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Union Township than in 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Union Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #597 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 22 claims here since 1979.
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 Union Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What 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
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 Union Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Union Township, and Union Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #597 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Union 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, Union Township has more expected damage per building than 58% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Union Township: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Union Township flood? Sometimes: 22 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Union Township, from FEMA’s records: 8.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan7 claims · $71K
- Hurricane Ida3 claims · $26K
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: Washington County.The storms Union Township remembers
None of the 11 disasters declared for Washington County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Union Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20047 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Washington County
- 20174 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20213 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Washington County has had 11 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 Union Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Union Township archive →Union Township and its neighbors
Union Township is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peters Township | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Jefferson Hills | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 58 |
| South Park Township | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 53 |
| Nottingham Township | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Union Township | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Carroll Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 53 |
| Forward Township | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 160 |
| New Eagle | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Gastonville | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Bunola | — | 134 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 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.
- 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 Union Township
Is Union Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Union Township has lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #597 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 Union Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 22 claims in Union Township since 1979, $314K in all, or 8.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (7).
Is 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 Washington County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Union Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Union 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 Union Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 7 paid, $71K.
Is Union Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Union Township’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Union Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where 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.