Samuel Stoner Homestead · Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in West Manchester Township than in 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, West Manchester Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #585 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%), then hurricanes (16%). Flood insurance has paid 24 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 stands out about West Manchester Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What West Manchester 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 Manchester Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in West Manchester Township, and West Manchester Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 16% (higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #585 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
West Manchester 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 Manchester Township has more expected damage per building than 56% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.1M a year in losses across West Manchester Township: $4.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does West Manchester Township flood? Sometimes: 24 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in West Manchester Township, from FEMA’s records: 2.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 52% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee9 claims · $163K
- Hurricane Ida1 claim · $24K
- Hurricane Sandy1 claim · $20K
West Manchester 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: York County.The storms West Manchester Township remembers
None of the 17 disasters declared for York County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching West Manchester Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20119 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storm Lee, declared for York County
- 20213 flood claims paidThe year of Remnants of Hurricane Ida, declared for York County
- 19782 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
York County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of West Manchester Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the West Manchester Township archive →West Manchester Township and its neighbors
West Manchester Township is 5th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester Township | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Jackson Township | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| North Codorus Township | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Spring Garden Township | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| West Manchester Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| York | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 42 |
| Dover Township | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 99 |
| West York | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Weigelstown | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Shiloh | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| New Salem | — | not graded yet | |
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 Manchester 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 Manchester Township
Is West Manchester Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, West Manchester Township has lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #585 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and hurricanes (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does West Manchester Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 24 claims in West Manchester Township since 1978, $396K in all, or 2.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 52% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (9).
Is West Manchester 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 York County, 30% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in West Manchester Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for West Manchester 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 Manchester Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 9 paid, $163K.
Is West Manchester Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and West Manchester Township’s rate for it is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in West Manchester Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where West Manchester 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.