FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Walker Township than in 77% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Walker Township gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, #435 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 57 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 Walker Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Walker 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 Walker Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Walker Township, and Walker Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #435 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Walker Township’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical Pennsylvania town has lower expected damage than 71% of U.S. towns; within the state, Walker Township has less expected damage per building than 58% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $750K a year in losses across Walker Township: $640K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Walker Township flood? Sometimes: 57 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Walker Township, from FEMA’s records: 29.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan10 claims · $200K
- Tropical Storm Lee3 claims · $30K
- Hurricane Ida1 claim · $84K
Walker 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: Centre County.The storms Walker Township remembers
None of the 12 disasters declared for Centre County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Walker Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 198415 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 199611 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Centre County
- 200410 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Centre County
Centre County has had 12 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 Walker Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Walker Township archive →Walker Township and its neighbors
Walker Township is 3rd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Township | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Marion Township | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Walker Township | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 57 |
| Gregg Township | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 56 |
| Mingoville | — | 180 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 Walker 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 Walker Township
Is Walker Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Walker Township has lower expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #435 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%) and hurricanes (6%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Walker Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 57 claims in Walker Township since 1978, $581K in all, or 29.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (10).
Is Walker 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 Centre County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Walker Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Walker 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 Walker Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 10 paid, $200K.
Is Walker Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Walker Township’s rate for it is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Walker Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Walker 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.