Helfrich's Springs Grist Mill · Photo: Smallbones · CC0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Whitehall Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Whitehall Township gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #750 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 45 claims here since 1978.
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 Whitehall 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 Whitehall Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Whitehall Township, and Whitehall Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #750 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Whitehall Township’s residents live in 6 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, Whitehall Township has more expected damage per building than 72% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.8M a year in losses across Whitehall Township: $7.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Whitehall Township flood? Sometimes: 45 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Whitehall Township, from FEMA’s records: 3.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 53% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Isaias5 claims · $45K
- Tropical Storm Ivan3 claims · $15K
Whitehall 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 Whitehall Township remembers
None of the 13 disasters declared for Lehigh County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Whitehall Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 198714 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 197911 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20205 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
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 Whitehall Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Whitehall Township archive →Whitehall Township and its neighbors
Whitehall 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanover Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| North Whitehall Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| South Whitehall Township | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 55 |
| Coplay | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Allentown | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 310 |
| Whitehall Township | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 45 |
| Northampton | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| North Catasauqua | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Catasauqua | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Fullerton | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Cementon | — | 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 Whitehall 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 Whitehall Township
Is Whitehall Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Whitehall Township has lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #750 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 Whitehall Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 45 claims in Whitehall Township since 1978, $256K in all, or 3.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 53% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Isaias (5).
Is Whitehall 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 Whitehall Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Whitehall 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 Whitehall Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Isaias: 5 paid, $45K.
Is Whitehall Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Whitehall Township’s rate for it is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Whitehall Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Whitehall 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.