Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Wayne Township than in 83% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wayne Township gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, #360 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1996.
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 Wayne 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 Wayne Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wayne Township, and Wayne Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #360 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Wayne 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, Wayne Township has less expected damage per building than 65% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Wayne Township: $864K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wayne Township flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wayne Township, from FEMA’s records: 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida1 claim · $6K
Wayne 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: Schuylkill County.The storms Wayne Township remembers
None of the 20 disasters declared for Schuylkill County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Wayne Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19961 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Schuylkill County
- 20211 flood claims paidThe year of Remnants of Hurricane Ida, declared for Schuylkill County
Schuylkill County has had 20 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Wayne Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wayne Township archive →Wayne Township and its neighbors
Wayne 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Upper Tulpehocken Township | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Wayne Township | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Branch Township | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| North Manheim Township | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Washington Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Reilly Township | — | 678 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 Wayne 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 Wayne Township
Is Wayne Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wayne Township has lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #360 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and hurricanes (8%). 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 Wayne Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Wayne Township since 1996, $8K in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (1).
Is Wayne 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 Schuylkill County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Wayne Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wayne 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 Wayne Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 1 paid, $6K.
Is Wayne Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Wayne Township’s rate for it is lower than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wayne Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wayne 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.