Chichester Friends Meetinghouse · Photo: Smallbones 14:15, 25 October 2009 (UTC). · Public domainFEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Upper Chichester Township than in 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Upper Chichester Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #304 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 27 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 Upper Chichester Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Upper Chichester 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
Earthquakes
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 Upper Chichester Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Upper Chichester Township, and Upper Chichester Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 66% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 6% (higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts).
A #304 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Upper Chichester Township’s residents live in 4 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, Upper Chichester Township has less expected damage per building than 71% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.8M a year in losses across Upper Chichester Township: $2.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Upper Chichester Township flood? Sometimes: 27 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Upper Chichester Township, from FEMA’s records: 4.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd7 claims · $59K
- Hurricane Isaias3 claims · $87K
- Hurricane Sandy1 claim · $8K
Upper Chichester 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: Delaware County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Upper Chichester Township
Disasters that paid out in Upper Chichester Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Upper Chichester Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida21 households applied for aid$34K aid approved
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee8 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene32 households applied for aid$49K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $130K
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 Upper Chichester Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Upper Chichester Township archive →Upper Chichester Township and its neighbors
Upper Chichester Township is 5th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel Township | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Lower Chichester Township | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Aston Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
| Trainer | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Upper Chichester Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Chester | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 148 |
| Chester Township | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 140 |
| Village Green-Green Ridge | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Boothwyn | — | 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 Upper Chichester 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.
- 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.
- 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 Upper Chichester Township
Is Upper Chichester Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Upper Chichester Township has lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #304 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and earthquakes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Upper Chichester Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 27 claims in Upper Chichester Township since 1978, $953K in all, or 4.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (7).
Is Upper Chichester 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 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 Upper Chichester Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Upper Chichester 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 Upper Chichester Township?
By FEMA money that reached Upper Chichester Township, Hurricane Irene (2011): 32 households applied for aid, $49K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 7 paid, $59K.
Is Upper Chichester Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Upper Chichester Township’s rate for it is lower than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Upper Chichester Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Upper Chichester 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.