Centennial Bridge · Photo: Rob Tucher · Public domainFEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Upper Saucon Township than in 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Upper Saucon Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #481 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). Flood insurance has paid 17 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 Upper Saucon 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 Saucon Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Upper Saucon Township, and Upper Saucon Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 9% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #481 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Upper Saucon Township’s residents live in 4 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 Saucon Township has less expected damage per building than 54% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.6M a year in losses across Upper Saucon Township: $4.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Upper Saucon Township flood? Sometimes: 17 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Upper Saucon Township, from FEMA’s records: 2.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Isaias3 claims · $142K
- Tropical Storm Ivan2 claims · $7K
- Hurricane Irene2 claims · $6K
Upper Saucon 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: Lehigh County.The storms Upper Saucon Township remembers
None of the 13 disasters declared for Lehigh County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Upper Saucon Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20203 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19832 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20042 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Lehigh County
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 Upper Saucon Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Upper Saucon Township archive →Upper Saucon Township and its neighbors
Upper Saucon Township is 4th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coopersburg | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Upper Milford Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Lower Milford Township | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Upper Saucon Township | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Salisbury Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Springfield Township | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Lower Saucon Township | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
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 Saucon 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 Saucon Township
Is Upper Saucon Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Upper Saucon Township has lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #481 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and hurricanes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Upper Saucon Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 17 claims in Upper Saucon Township since 1979, $266K in all, or 2.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Isaias (3).
Is Upper Saucon 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 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 Upper Saucon Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Upper Saucon 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 Saucon Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Isaias: 3 paid, $142K.
Is Upper Saucon Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Upper Saucon Township’s rate for it is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Upper Saucon Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Upper Saucon 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.