John Walter Farmstead · Photo: Generic1139 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Washington Township than in 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Washington Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #259 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 5 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 Washington 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 Washington Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Washington Township, and Washington Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts.
A #259 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Washington 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, Washington Township has less expected damage per building than 75% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Washington Township: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Washington Township flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Washington Township, from FEMA’s records: 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 65% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan1 claim · $2K
Washington 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: Westmoreland County.The storms Washington Township remembers
None of the 17 disasters declared for Westmoreland County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Washington Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19781 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19851 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Westmoreland County
- 20041 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Washington Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Washington Township archive →Washington Township and its neighbors
Washington Township is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem Township | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Upper Burrell Township | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Washington Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Murrysville | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 49 |
| Bell Township | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Allegheny Township | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Oklahoma | — | 884 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 Washington 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Washington Township
Is Washington Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Washington Township has lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #259 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Washington Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Washington Township since 1978, $12K in all, or 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 65% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (1).
Is Washington 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 Westmoreland County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Washington Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Washington 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 Washington Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 1 paid, $2K.
Is Washington Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Washington Township’s rate for it is lower than 59% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Washington Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Washington 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.