Slatington Historic District · Photo: Shuvaev · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Slatington faces more hazard damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Slatington gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #935 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1987.
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 Slatington 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 Slatington’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Slatington, and Slatington’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
C #935 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Slatington’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, Slatington has more expected damage per building than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Slatington: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Slatington flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1987
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Slatington, from FEMA’s records: 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Slatington 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 Slatington
Disasters that paid out in Slatington itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Slatington), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Hurricane Irene10 households applied for aid$17K aid approved
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan4 households applied for aid$12K aid approved
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 Slatington after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Slatington archive →Slatington and its neighbors
Slatington is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lehigh Township | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Washington Township | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Walnutport | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Slatington | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
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 Slatington 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 Slatington
Is Slatington at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Slatington has higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #935 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). 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 Slatington flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Slatington since 1987, $8K in all, or 1.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Slatington 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 Slatington?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Slatington’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 Slatington?
By FEMA money that reached Slatington, Hurricane Irene (2011): 10 households applied for aid, $17K approved.
Is Slatington at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Slatington’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Slatington.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Slatington’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.