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TowerTheaterUpperDarby69thStreet2007Photo: Mtruch · CC BY-SA 3.0
B+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Upper Darby Township · FEMA

FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Upper Darby Township than in 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Upper Darby Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #518 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%), then earthquakes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 363 claims here since 1978.

River and rain flooding 78%Earthquakes 11%Hurricanes 5%

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

less than 71%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#518 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania
Hazard risk
B+#518 of 1,037
in Pennsylvania · lower than 71% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
78% of expected building damage
Flood claims
363
paid since 1978 · $7.3M
Flooded more than once
57
properties · 7 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
5
of 19 declared for Delaware County

What stands out about Upper Darby Township’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Lower expected damage than 71% of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.363 paid flood claims since 1978$7.3M in all; 57 properties flooded more than once.Remembers 200495 flood claims were paid for 2004 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Upper Darby 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

78%of expected building damage
About average · lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

11%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Hurricanes Tornadoes Strong wind Winter storms Ice storms Lightning Hail Wildfire Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts heat waves at 10% of Upper Darby Township’s expected losses. Heat waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Upper Darby Township’s grade

River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Upper Darby Township, and Upper Darby Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 11% (higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Upper Darby Township sits
Upper Darby Township
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B+ #518 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Upper Darby Township’s residents live in 23 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding78%Earthquakes11%Hurricanes5%Everything else7%

The typical Pennsylvania town has lower expected damage than 71% of U.S. towns; within the state, Upper Darby Township has less expected damage per building than 50% of Pennsylvania towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $18.1M a year in losses across Upper Darby Township: $12.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Recent disaster.FEMA’s model looks at expected damage to the buildings standing today. After Remnants of Hurricane Ida in 2021, FEMA took 1,021 aid registrations from Upper Darby Township addresses (the town has 35,306 homes).
A firm figure. It combines 23 census tracts by where Upper Darby Township’s residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Upper Darby Township flood? Yes: 363 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Upper Darby Township, from FEMA’s records: 10.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 15 claims1979: 26 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 4 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 4 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 2 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 33 claims1992: 1 claim1993: 3 claims1994: 3 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 3 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 23 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 3 claims2004: 95 claims2005: 3 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 4 claims2008: 1 claim2009: 3 claims2010: 20 claims2011: 31 claims2012: 1 claim2013: 5 claims2014: 3 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 2 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 20 claims2019: 2 claims2020: 51 claims2021: 2 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims199120042020
19782026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Isaias50 claims · $2.4M
  • Tropical Storm Lee23 claims · $212K
  • Hurricane Floyd16 claims · $98K
363
paid claims since 1978
$7.3M
paid to owners
57
homes flooded more than once
$20K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (7)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Upper Darby 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.
Disasters

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Upper Darby Township

Disasters that paid out in Upper Darby Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Upper Darby Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida1,021 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved2 flood claims paid for it, $54K
  2. 2011Tropical Storm Lee112 households applied for aid$122K aid approved23 flood claims paid for it, $212K
  3. 2011Hurricane Irene488 households applied for aid$210K aid approved7 flood claims paid for it, $131K
  4. 2004Tropical Depression Ivan38 households applied for aid$69K aid approved
  5. 2004Severe Storms and Flooding533 households applied for aid$1.4M aid approved
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Upper Darby TownshipDelaware County only

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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Upper Darby Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Upper Darby Township archive →
Next door

Upper Darby Township and its neighbors

Upper Darby Township is 9th of the 10 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Philadelphia: hazard risk B−Drexel Hill: not gradedClifton Heights: hazard risk ASpringfield Township: hazard risk ALansdowne: hazard risk A−Aldan: hazard risk AYeadon: hazard risk A−Haverford Township: hazard risk ARidley Township: hazard risk A−Millbourne: hazard risk B+PhiladelphiaDrexel HillClifton HeightsSpringfield TownshipLansdowneAldanYeadonHaverford TownshipRidley TownshipMillbourneUpper Darby Township
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
Springfield TownshipAless damage than 95%river and rain flooding123
AldanAless damage than 93%river and rain flooding—
Haverford TownshipAless damage than 88%river and rain flooding139
Clifton HeightsAless damage than 86%river and rain flooding7
YeadonA−less damage than 82%river and rain flooding13
Ridley TownshipA−less damage than 80%river and rain flooding85
LansdowneA−less damage than 76%river and rain flooding8
MillbourneB+less damage than 74%river and rain flooding—
Upper Darby TownshipB+less damage than 71%river and rain flooding363
PhiladelphiaB−less damage than 54%river and rain flooding1,177
Drexel Hill—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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Upper Darby 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.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Upper Darby Township

Is Upper Darby Township at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Upper Darby Township has lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #518 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and earthquakes (11%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Upper Darby Township flood?

Flood insurance has paid 363 claims in Upper Darby Township since 1978, $7.3M in all, or 10.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 57 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Isaias (50).

Is Upper Darby 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 Darby Township?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Upper Darby 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 Darby Township?

By FEMA money that reached Upper Darby Township, Severe Storms and Flooding (2004): 533 households applied for aid, $1.4M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Isaias: 50 paid, $2.4M.

Is Upper Darby Township at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Upper Darby Township’s rate for it is lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Upper Darby Township.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Upper Darby 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.