Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Bethlehem 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, Bethlehem gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #807 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 166 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 Bethlehem’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bethlehem 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 Bethlehem’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bethlehem, and Bethlehem’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #807 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bethlehem’s residents live in 20 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, Bethlehem has more expected damage per building than 78% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $22.6M a year in losses across Bethlehem: $17.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bethlehem flood? Yes: 166 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bethlehem, from FEMA’s records: 5.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan19 claims · $644K
- Hurricane Irene19 claims · $299K
- Hurricane Isaias12 claims · $358K
Bethlehem 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.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bethlehem
Disasters that paid out in Bethlehem itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Bethlehem), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida140 households applied for aid$70K aid approved7 flood claims paid for it, $161K
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee32 households applied for aid$52K aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene94 households applied for aid$125K aid approved19 flood claims paid for it, $299K
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides5 households applied for aid$12K aid approved
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding10 households applied for aid$8K aid approved10 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan270 households applied for aid$914K aid approved19 flood claims paid for it, $644K
Its 2 counties have 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 Bethlehem after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bethlehem archive →Bethlehem and its neighbors
Bethlehem is 8th of the 9 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 |
| Hanover Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 90 |
| Bethlehem Township | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 49 |
| Salisbury Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Hellertown | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Lower Saucon Township | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Allentown | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 310 |
| Bethlehem | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 166 |
| Freemansburg | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
| Middletown | — | 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 Bethlehem 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 Bethlehem
Is Bethlehem at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bethlehem has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #807 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 Bethlehem flood?
Flood insurance has paid 166 claims in Bethlehem since 1978, $3.5M in all, or 5.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 19 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (19).
Is Bethlehem 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 Bethlehem?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bethlehem’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 Bethlehem?
By FEMA money that reached Bethlehem, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 270 households applied for aid, $914K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 19 paid, $644K.
Is Bethlehem at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Bethlehem’s rate for it is higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bethlehem.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bethlehem’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.