Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Macungie as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Macungie gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #669 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 32 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 Macungie’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Macungie 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 Macungie’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Macungie, and Macungie’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts).
B #669 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Macungie’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, Macungie has more expected damage per building than 64% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.0M a year in losses across Macungie: $598K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Macungie flood? Sometimes: 32 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Macungie, from FEMA’s records: 21.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan6 claims · $143K
- Hurricane Irene3 claims · $23K
Macungie isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lehigh County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Macungie
Disasters that paid out in Macungie itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Macungie), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Hurricane Irene23 households applied for aid$18K aid approved3 flood claims paid for it, $23K
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan30 households applied for aid$51K aid approved6 flood claims paid for it, $143K
Lehigh County has had 13 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Macungie after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Macungie archive →Macungie and its neighbors
Macungie is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Milford Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Lower Macungie Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 150 |
| Macungie | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
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 Macungie 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 Macungie
Is Macungie at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Macungie has lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #669 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) 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 Macungie flood?
Flood insurance has paid 32 claims in Macungie since 1978, $321K in all, or 21.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (6).
Is Macungie 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 Lehigh County, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Macungie?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Macungie’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 Macungie?
By FEMA money that reached Macungie, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 30 households applied for aid, $51K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 6 paid, $143K.
Is Macungie at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Macungie’s rate for it is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Macungie.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Macungie’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.