Photo: Gplefka · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Bushkill Township faces less hazard damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bushkill Township gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, #444 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 12 claims here since 1996.
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 Bushkill 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 Bushkill Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bushkill Township, and Bushkill Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #444 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bushkill Township’s residents live in 2 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, Bushkill Township has less expected damage per building than 57% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.0M a year in losses across Bushkill Township: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bushkill Township flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bushkill Township, from FEMA’s records: 3.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 53% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan5 claims · $156K
- Hurricane Isaias3 claims · $102K
Bushkill 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 Bushkill Township remembers
None of the 18 disasters declared for Northampton County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Bushkill Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20047 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Northampton County
- 20203 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19961 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, 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 Bushkill Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bushkill Township archive →Bushkill Township and its neighbors
Bushkill Township is 4th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plainfield Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Moore Township | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Ross Township | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Bushkill Township | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Upper Nazareth Township | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
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 Bushkill 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 Bushkill Township
Is Bushkill Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bushkill Township has lower expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #444 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and hurricanes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bushkill Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Bushkill Township since 1996, $272K in all, or 3.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 53% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (5).
Is Bushkill 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 Bushkill Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bushkill 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 Bushkill Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 5 paid, $156K.
Is Bushkill Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Bushkill Township’s rate for it is lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bushkill Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bushkill 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.