Photo: Nicholas · CC BY 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Allen Township faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Allen Township gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #738 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 2004.
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 Allen 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
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 Allen Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Allen Township, and Allen Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #738 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Allen Township’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, Allen Township has more expected damage per building than 71% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Allen Township: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Allen Township flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 2004
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Allen Township, from FEMA’s records: 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 65% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Isaias1 claim · $20K
- Tropical Storm Ivan1 claim · $8K
Allen 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: Northampton County.The storms Allen Township remembers
None of the 18 disasters declared for Northampton County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Allen Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20041 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Northampton County
- 20101 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20111 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storm Lee, declared for Northampton County
Northampton County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Allen Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Allen Township archive →Allen Township and its neighbors
Allen Township 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Whitehall Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Moore Township | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Lehigh Township | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| East Allen Township | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Allen Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Northampton | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| North Catasauqua | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Laurys Station | — | 744 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Allen 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.
- 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 Allen Township
Is Allen Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Allen Township has lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #738 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (6%). 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 Allen Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Allen Township since 2004, $38K in all, or 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 65% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Isaias (1).
Is Allen 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 Northampton County, 39% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Allen Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Allen 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 Allen Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Isaias: 1 paid, $20K.
Is Allen Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Allen Township’s rate for it is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Allen Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Allen 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.