Photo: Margaret Luzier, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Public domainMore hazard damage per building is expected in Wayne Township than in 72% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wayne Township gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 72 claims here since 1980.
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 Wayne Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
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
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 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wayne Township, and Wayne Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 87% of U.S. census tracts.
C higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Wayne Township’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $388K a year in losses across Wayne Township: $363K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wayne Township flood? Sometimes: 72 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wayne Township, from FEMA’s records: 112.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan24 claims · $557K
- Hurricane Floyd1 claim · $3K
- 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: Armstrong County.The storms Wayne Township remembers
None of the 14 disasters declared for Armstrong County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Wayne Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 200426 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Armstrong County
- 199618 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes, declared for Armstrong County
- 19847 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Armstrong County
Armstrong County has had 14 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 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 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Mahoning Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Cowanshannock Township | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Mahoning Township | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Wayne Township | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 72 |
| Redbank Township | — | 851 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Boggs Township | — | 868 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.
- 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 higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). 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 72 claims in Wayne Township since 1980, $1.1M in all, or 112.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 11 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (24).
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 Armstrong County, 9% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% 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, Tropical Storm Ivan: 24 paid, $557K.
Is Wayne Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Wayne Township’s rate for it is higher than 87% 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.