Photo: Nicholas · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in West Lampeter Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, West Lampeter Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #685 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%), then hurricanes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 91 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 West Lampeter 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
Earthquakes
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 West Lampeter Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in West Lampeter Township, and West Lampeter Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 13% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
B #685 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
West Lampeter Township’s residents live in 4 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, West Lampeter Township has more expected damage per building than 66% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.5M a year in losses across West Lampeter Township: $3.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does West Lampeter Township flood? Sometimes: 91 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in West Lampeter Township, from FEMA’s records: 12.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee6 claims · $127K
- Hurricane Floyd5 claims · $38K
West Lampeter 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: Lancaster County.The storms West Lampeter Township remembers
None of the 18 disasters declared for Lancaster County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching West Lampeter Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 197920 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 197819 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19877 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Lancaster County has had 18 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 West Lampeter Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the West Lampeter Township archive →West Lampeter Township and its neighbors
West Lampeter Township is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Lampeter Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 73 |
| West Lampeter Township | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 91 |
| Strasburg Township | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 131 |
| Pequea Township | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Lancaster | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 81 |
| Lancaster Township | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 99 |
| Refton | — | 321 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Willow Street | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 West Lampeter 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 West Lampeter Township
Is West Lampeter Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, West Lampeter Township has lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #685 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and hurricanes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does West Lampeter Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 91 claims in West Lampeter Township since 1978, $654K in all, or 12.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 10 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (6).
Is West Lampeter 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 Lancaster County, 27% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in West Lampeter Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for West Lampeter 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 West Lampeter Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 6 paid, $127K.
Is West Lampeter Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and West Lampeter Township’s rate for it is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in West Lampeter Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where West Lampeter 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.