Photo: Nicholas from Pennsylvania, USA · CC BY 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Upper Mount Bethel Township faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Upper Mount Bethel Township gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #720 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 124 claims here since 1996.
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 Upper Mount Bethel Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Upper Mount Bethel 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 Upper Mount Bethel Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Upper Mount Bethel Township, and Upper Mount Bethel Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #720 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Upper Mount Bethel Township’s residents live in 2 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, Upper Mount Bethel Township has more expected damage per building than 69% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.5M a year in losses across Upper Mount Bethel Township: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Upper Mount Bethel Township flood? Yes: 124 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Upper Mount Bethel Township, from FEMA’s records: 42.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan28 claims · $684K
- The Torrential rain3 claims · $127K
- Tropical Storm Lee2 claims · $4K
Upper Mount Bethel 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.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Upper Mount Bethel Township
Disasters that paid out in Upper Mount Bethel Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Upper Mount Bethel Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Hurricane Irene1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $825
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 Upper Mount Bethel Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Upper Mount Bethel Township archive →Upper Mount Bethel Township and its neighbors
Upper Mount Bethel Township is 6th of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stroud Township | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
| Washington Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Hamilton Township | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| East Bangor | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Smithfield Township | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 162 |
| Upper Mount Bethel Township | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 124 |
| Knowlton Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 109 |
| White Township | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 49 |
| Belvidere | Dmore damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 155 |
| Portland | — | 546 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Delaware | — | 101 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 Upper Mount Bethel 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 Upper Mount Bethel Township
Is Upper Mount Bethel Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Upper Mount Bethel Township has lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #720 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Upper Mount Bethel Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 124 claims in Upper Mount Bethel Township since 1996, $4.2M in all, or 42.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 33 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (28).
Is Upper Mount Bethel 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 Upper Mount Bethel Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Upper Mount Bethel 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 Upper Mount Bethel Township?
By FEMA money that reached Upper Mount Bethel Township, Hurricane Irene (2011): 1 households applied for aid, $2K approved. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 28 paid, $684K.
Is Upper Mount Bethel Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Upper Mount Bethel Township’s rate for it is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Upper Mount Bethel Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Upper Mount Bethel 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.