Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Allentown 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, Allentown gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #729 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 310 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 Allentown’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Allentown 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 Allentown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Allentown, and Allentown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #729 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Allentown’s residents live in 28 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, Allentown has more expected damage per building than 70% of Pennsylvania towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Allentown has lower expected damage per building than 64% (#146 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $37.5M, is the 312th largest of those 400.
Does Allentown flood? Yes: 310 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Allentown, from FEMA’s records: 6.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 65% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan23 claims · $644K
- Hurricane Irene11 claims · $166K
Allentown isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lehigh County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Allentown
Disasters that paid out in Allentown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Allentown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Hurricane Irene133 households applied for aid$94K aid approved11 flood claims paid for it, $166K
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan69 households applied for aid$119K aid approved23 flood claims paid for it, $644K
Lehigh County has had 13 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Allentown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Allentown archive →Allentown and its neighbors
Allentown 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanover Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Emmaus | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| South Whitehall Township | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 55 |
| Salisbury Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Allentown | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 310 |
| Whitehall Township | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 45 |
| Bethlehem | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 166 |
| Fullerton | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Dorneyville | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Cetronia | — | 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 Allentown 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 Allentown
Is Allentown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Allentown has lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #729 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Allentown flood?
Flood insurance has paid 310 claims in Allentown since 1978, $4.7M in all, or 6.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 65% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 40 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (23).
Is Allentown 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 Lehigh County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Allentown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Allentown’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 Allentown?
By FEMA money that reached Allentown, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 69 households applied for aid, $119K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 23 paid, $644K.
Is Allentown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Allentown’s rate for it is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Allentown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Allentown’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.