Photo: Nicholas A. Tonelli · CC BY 2.0On FEMA’s figures, East Allen Township faces less hazard damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, East Allen Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns, #661 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 6 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 East 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 East Allen Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in East Allen Township, and East Allen Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
B #661 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of East 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, East Allen Township has more expected damage per building than 64% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across East Allen Township: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does East Allen Township flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in East Allen Township, from FEMA’s records: 2.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 54% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene2 claims · $14K
East 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 East Allen Township remembers
None of the 18 disasters declared for Northampton County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching East Allen Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20113 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storm Lee, declared for Northampton County
- 19781 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19841 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
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 East Allen Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the East Allen Township archive →East Allen Township and its neighbors
East Allen Township is 3rd of the 6 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 88% | river and rain flooding | 90 |
| Moore Township | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| East Allen Township | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Upper Nazareth Township | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Allen Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Bath | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
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 East 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 East Allen Township
Is East Allen Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, East Allen Township has lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #661 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and hurricanes (7%). 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 East Allen Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in East Allen Township since 1978, $55K in all, or 2.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 54% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (2).
Is East 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 East Allen Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for East 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 East Allen Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 2 paid, $14K.
Is East Allen Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and East Allen Township’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in East Allen Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where East 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.