Photo: Zeete · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Upper Makefield Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Upper Makefield Township gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns, #753 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 300 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 Upper Makefield Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Upper Makefield 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 Upper Makefield Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Upper Makefield Township, and Upper Makefield Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #753 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Upper Makefield 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, Upper Makefield Township has more expected damage per building than 73% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.5M a year in losses across Upper Makefield Township: $4.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Upper Makefield Township flood? Yes: 300 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Upper Makefield Township, from FEMA’s records: 87.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan44 claims · $3.5M
- Tropical Storm Lee34 claims · $553K
- The Torrential rain20 claims · $1.3M
Upper Makefield Township is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Bucks County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Upper Makefield Township
Disasters that paid out in Upper Makefield Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Upper Makefield Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Hurricane Irene1 households applied for aid$5K aid approved11 flood claims paid for it, $228K
Bucks County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Upper Makefield Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Upper Makefield Township archive →Upper Makefield Township and its neighbors
Upper Makefield Township is 4th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newtown Township | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Wrightstown Township | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Lower Makefield Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 186 |
| Upper Makefield Township | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 300 |
| Solebury Township | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 199 |
| Hopewell Township | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 69 |
| Newtown Grant | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Titusville | — | 501 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 Upper Makefield 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.
- Upper Makefield Township residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Upper Makefield Township
Is Upper Makefield Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Upper Makefield Township has lower expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #753 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Upper Makefield Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 300 claims in Upper Makefield Township since 1979, $14.3M in all, or 87.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 73 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (44).
Is Upper Makefield 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 Bucks County, 49% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Upper Makefield Township?
Upper Makefield Township is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. 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 Makefield Township?
By FEMA money that reached Upper Makefield Township, Hurricane Irene (2011): 1 households applied for aid, $5K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 44 paid, $3.5M.
Is Upper Makefield Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Upper Makefield Township’s rate for it is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Upper Makefield Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Upper Makefield 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.