Photo: CanonLawJunkie · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Forks Township than in 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Forks Township gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #879 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 162 claims here since 1979.
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 Forks Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Forks 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 Forks Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Forks Township, and Forks Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 5% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #879 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Forks Township’s residents live in 4 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, Forks Township has more expected damage per building than 85% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.2M a year in losses across Forks Township: $5.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Forks Township flood? Yes: 162 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Forks Township, from FEMA’s records: 25.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan26 claims · $1.4M
- Tropical Storm Lee9 claims · $280K
Forks 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 Forks Township remembers
None of the 18 disasters declared for Northampton County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Forks Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 200543 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Northampton County
- 200634 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides, declared for Northampton County
- 200426 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, 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 Forks Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Forks Township archive →Forks Township and its neighbors
Forks Township is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plainfield Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Palmer Township | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
| Forks Township | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 162 |
| Tatamy | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Easton | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 233 |
| Harmony Township | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 321 |
| Lopatcong Township | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Lower Mount Bethel Township | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 228 |
| Chestnut Hill | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Stockertown | — | 775 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Forks 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 Forks Township
Is Forks Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Forks Township has higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #879 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) and hurricanes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Forks Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 162 claims in Forks Township since 1979, $6.6M in all, or 25.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 42 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (26).
Is Forks 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 Forks Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Forks 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 Forks Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 26 paid, $1.4M.
Is Forks Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Forks Township’s rate for it is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Forks Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Forks 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.