Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in York as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, York gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #665 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%), then hurricanes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 42 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 York’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What York 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 York’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in York, and York’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 15% (higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts).
B #665 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
York’s residents live in 16 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, York has more expected damage per building than 64% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.2M a year in losses across York: $8.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does York flood? Sometimes: 42 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in York, from FEMA’s records: 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee13 claims · $168K
- Hurricane Ida3 claims · $8K
- Tropical Storm Ivan2 claims · $33K
York 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.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to York
Disasters that paid out in York itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of York), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida1,962 households applied for aid$2.0M aid approved3 flood claims paid for it, $8K
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee2,452 households applied for aid$3.4M aid approved13 flood claims paid for it, $168K
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan42 households applied for aid$70K aid approved2 flood claims paid for it, $33K
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 York after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the York archive →York and its neighbors
York is 5th of the 7 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 |
| Springettsbury Township | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| 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 |
| North York | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | — |
| West York | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Valley View | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Grantley | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Shiloh | — | 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 York 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 York
Is York at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, York has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #665 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and hurricanes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does York flood?
Flood insurance has paid 42 claims in York since 1978, $399K in all, or 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (13).
Is York 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 York?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for York’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 York?
By FEMA money that reached York, Tropical Storm Lee (2011): 2,452 households applied for aid, $3.4M approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 13 paid, $168K.
Is York at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and York’s rate for it is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in York.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where York’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.