Photo: Nicholas A. Tonelli from Pennsylvania, USA · CC BY 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Upper Nazareth Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Upper Nazareth Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #700 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2004.
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 Upper Nazareth 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 Nazareth Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Upper Nazareth Township, and Upper Nazareth Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
B #700 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Upper Nazareth Township’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, Upper Nazareth Township has more expected damage per building than 67% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Upper Nazareth Township: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Upper Nazareth Township flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2004
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Upper Nazareth Township, from FEMA’s records: 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 75% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Isaias1 claim · $9K
- Tropical Storm Ivan1 claim · $38K
Upper Nazareth 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 Upper Nazareth Township remembers
None of the 18 disasters declared for Northampton County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Upper Nazareth Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20041 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Northampton County
- 20111 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Storm Lee, declared for Northampton County
- 20201 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
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 Nazareth Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Upper Nazareth Township archive →Upper Nazareth Township and its neighbors
Upper Nazareth Township is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nazareth | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Moore Township | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Bushkill Township | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Lower Nazareth Township | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| East Allen Township | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Upper Nazareth Township | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Palmer Township | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
| Bath | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Eastlawn Gardens | — | 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 Upper Nazareth 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 Nazareth Township
Is Upper Nazareth Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Upper Nazareth Township has lower expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #700 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and hurricanes (6%). 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 Upper Nazareth Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Upper Nazareth Township since 2004, $62K in all, or 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 75% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Isaias (1).
Is Upper Nazareth 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 Nazareth Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Upper Nazareth 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 Nazareth Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Isaias: 1 paid, $9K.
Is Upper Nazareth Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Upper Nazareth Township’s rate for it is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Upper Nazareth Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Upper Nazareth 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.