Photo: Shuvaev · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Palmer Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palmer Township gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #723 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 39 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 Palmer 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 Palmer Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Palmer Township, and Palmer Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #723 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Palmer Township’s residents live in 5 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, Palmer Township has more expected damage per building than 70% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.6M a year in losses across Palmer Township: $5.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Palmer Township flood? Sometimes: 39 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Palmer Township, from FEMA’s records: 4.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 56% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Isaias13 claims · $111K
- Hurricane Irene2 claims · $16K
- Tropical Storm Ivan2 claims · $145K
Palmer 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.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Palmer Township
Disasters that paid out in Palmer Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Palmer Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Hurricane Irene2 households applied for aid$1K aid approved2 flood claims paid for it, $16K
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved2 flood claims paid for it, $145K
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 Palmer Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Palmer Township archive →Palmer Township and its neighbors
Palmer Township is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethlehem Township | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 49 |
| Lower Nazareth Township | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Upper Nazareth Township | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Palmer Township | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
| Wilson | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| 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 |
| Stockertown | — | 775 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Old Orchard | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Eastlawn Gardens | — | 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 Palmer 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 Palmer Township
Is Palmer Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palmer Township has lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #723 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Palmer Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 39 claims in Palmer Township since 1979, $1.8M in all, or 4.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 56% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Isaias (13).
Is Palmer 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 Palmer Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Palmer 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 Palmer Township?
By FEMA money that reached Palmer Township, Tropical Depression Ivan (2004): 1 households applied for aid, $1K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Isaias: 13 paid, $111K.
Is Palmer Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Palmer Township’s rate for it is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Palmer Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Palmer 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.