Photo: Surfsupusa · CC BY-SA 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Upper Uwchlan Township than in 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Upper Uwchlan Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #322 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2021.
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 Upper Uwchlan 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
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 Uwchlan Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Upper Uwchlan Township, and Upper Uwchlan Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 5% (higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts).
A #322 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Upper Uwchlan Township’s residents live in 3 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 Uwchlan Township has less expected damage per building than 69% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.0M a year in losses across Upper Uwchlan Township: $3.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Upper Uwchlan Township flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2021
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Upper Uwchlan Township, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida1 claim · $10K
Upper Uwchlan 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: Chester County.The storms Upper Uwchlan Township remembers
None of the 21 disasters declared for Chester County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Upper Uwchlan Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20211 flood claims paidThe year of Remnants of Hurricane Ida, declared for Chester County
Chester County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Upper Uwchlan Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Upper Uwchlan Township archive →Upper Uwchlan Township and its neighbors
Upper Uwchlan Township is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Nantmeal Township | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Uwchlan Township | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| West Vincent Township | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| East Brandywine Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Upper Uwchlan Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Wallace Township | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Eagleview | — | 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 Uwchlan 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.
- 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 Uwchlan Township
Is Upper Uwchlan Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Upper Uwchlan Township has lower expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #322 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and hurricanes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Upper Uwchlan Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Upper Uwchlan Township since 2021, $10K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (1).
Is Upper Uwchlan 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 Chester County, 40% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Upper Uwchlan Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Upper Uwchlan 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 Uwchlan Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 1 paid, $10K.
Is Upper Uwchlan Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Upper Uwchlan Township’s rate for it is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Upper Uwchlan Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Upper Uwchlan 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.