Storms, floods and disasters in Wampum
Wampum isn’t graded for hazard risk: Wampum has 502 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2023.
What Wampum 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.
Does Wampum flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2023
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wampum, from FEMA’s records.
Wampum isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lawrence County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Wampum
Disasters that paid out in Wampum itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Wampum), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan6 households applied for aid$16K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding Associated with Tropical Depression Frances6 households applied for aid$23K aid approved
Lawrence County has had 9 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 Wampum after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wampum archive →Wampum and its neighbors
How expected damage per building compares across the town line. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne Township | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| New Beaver | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Chewton | — | 345 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 Wampum 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Wampum
Does Wampum flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Wampum since 2023, $1K in all.
Is Wampum 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 Lawrence County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Wampum?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wampum’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 Wampum?
By FEMA money that reached Wampum, Severe Storms and Flooding Associated with Tropical Depression Frances (2004): 6 households applied for aid, $23K approved.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wampum.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wampum’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.