Photo: Shuvaev · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Yardley’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 87% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Yardley gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, #1,007 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 704 claims here since 1979.
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 Yardley’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Yardley 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 Yardley’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Yardley, and Yardley’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
D #1,007 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Yardley’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, Yardley has more expected damage per building than 97% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.3M a year in losses across Yardley: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Yardley flood? Yes: 704 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Yardley, from FEMA’s records: 570.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 100% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan87 claims · $4.7M
- Tropical Storm Lee58 claims · $2.4M
- The Torrential rain43 claims · $1.5M
Yardley is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Bucks County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Yardley
Disasters that paid out in Yardley itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Yardley), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida23 households applied for aid$20K aid approved10 flood claims paid for it, $83K
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee52 households applied for aid$100K aid approved58 flood claims paid for it, $2.4M
- 2011Hurricane Irene50 households applied for aid$46K aid approved3 flood claims paid for it, $129K
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides126 households applied for aid$193K aid approved193 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding212 households applied for aid$534K aid approved196 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan102 households applied for aid$309K aid approved87 flood claims paid for it, $4.7M
Bucks County has had 21 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 Yardley after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Yardley archive →Yardley and its neighbors
Yardley is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Makefield Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 186 |
| Ewing Township | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 375 |
| Yardley | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 704 |
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 Yardley 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.
- Yardley residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Yardley
Is Yardley at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Yardley has higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #1,007 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). 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 Yardley flood?
Flood insurance has paid 704 claims in Yardley since 1979, $25.1M in all, or 570.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 100% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 168 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (87).
Is Yardley 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 Bucks County, 49% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Yardley?
Yardley is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Yardley?
By FEMA money that reached Yardley, Severe Storms and Flooding (2005): 212 households applied for aid, $534K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 87 paid, $4.7M.
Is Yardley at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Yardley’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Yardley.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Yardley’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.