Zeta Psi Fraternity House · Photo: Shuvaev · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Easton than in 72% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Easton gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, #921 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 233 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 Easton’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Easton 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
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 Easton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Easton, and Easton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
C #921 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Easton’s residents live in 7 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, Easton has more expected damage per building than 89% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.4M a year in losses across Easton: $6.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Easton flood? Yes: 233 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Easton, from FEMA’s records: 20.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan39 claims · $2.0M
- Tropical Storm Lee13 claims · $143K
Easton 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 Easton
Disasters that paid out in Easton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Easton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida180 households applied for aid$106K aid approved5 flood claims paid for it, $62K
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee23 households applied for aid$30K aid approved13 flood claims paid for it, $143K
- 2011Hurricane Irene83 households applied for aid$111K aid approved3 flood claims paid for it, $84K
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides128 households applied for aid$162K aid approved75 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding178 households applied for aid$305K aid approved60 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan407 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved39 flood claims paid for it, $2.0M
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 Easton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Easton archive →Easton and its neighbors
Easton is 6th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Saucon Township | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Palmer Township | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
| Wilson | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Williams Township | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 121 |
| Forks Township | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 162 |
| Easton | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 233 |
| Lopatcong Township | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Phillipsburg | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| Glendon | — | 374 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Chestnut Hill | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Old Orchard | — | 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 Easton 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.
- 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 Easton
Is Easton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Easton has higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #921 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Easton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 233 claims in Easton since 1978, $11.4M in all, or 20.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 45 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (39).
Is Easton 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 Easton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Easton’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 Easton?
By FEMA money that reached Easton, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 407 households applied for aid, $1.1M approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 39 paid, $2.0M.
Is Easton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Easton’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Easton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Easton’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.