Natural Disaster Risk in McSherrystown

Natural Hazard Profile: McSherrystown, Pennsylvania

Located along the mid-Atlantic coast in Adams County, McSherrystown is a town of roughly 3,719 residents. The humid continental climate that characterizes this part of Pennsylvania — marked by cold winters, warm summers, and four distinct seasons — directly influences the types and severity of natural hazards present, making McSherrystown a community where hazard awareness has real practical value.

McSherrystown's overall natural disaster risk is rated 6.0/10 (High) by FEMA's National Risk Index. Prolonged drought is the primary hazard risk, shaped by low annual rainfall, high evaporation rates, and increasing temperature trends that deepen and lengthen dry periods. Secondary hazards include hurricane and earthquake.

Relative to other U.S. communities, McSherrystown's natural disaster risk is above the U.S. national average of 4.5/10, near the 5.9/10 state average. The hazard distribution here is led by drought and hurricane, as measured by FEMA across Adams County. While city-specific sub-county variation exists, these scores represent the best available federal risk estimate.

McSherrystown's high risk designation reflects meaningful exposure to natural hazards. Residents should verify that their insurance covers the area's primary risks, prepare a family emergency plan, and stay informed about seasonal hazard peaks through local weather and emergency management services.