Photo: Hunter Kahn · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Williams 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, Williams Township gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #773 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 121 claims here since 1983.
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 Williams Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Williams 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 Williams Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Williams Township, and Williams Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #773 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Williams 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, Williams Township has more expected damage per building than 75% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.1M a year in losses across Williams Township: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Williams Township flood? Yes: 121 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Williams Township, from FEMA’s records: 41.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan32 claims · $1.4M
- The Torrential rain9 claims · $474K
- Hurricane Irene2 claims · $16K
Williams 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 Williams Township remembers
None of the 18 disasters declared for Northampton County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Williams Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 200538 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Northampton County
- 200634 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides, declared for Northampton County
- 200432 flood claims paidThe year of Tropical Depression Ivan, declared for Northampton County
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 Williams Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Williams Township archive →Williams Township and its neighbors
Williams Township is 2nd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Saucon Township | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Williams Township | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 121 |
| Easton | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 233 |
| Pohatcong Township | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 147 |
| Durham Township | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 188 |
| Phillipsburg | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| Glendon | — | 374 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Raubsville | — | 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 Williams 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 Williams Township
Is Williams Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Williams Township has higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #773 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (7%). 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 Williams Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 121 claims in Williams Township since 1983, $4.9M in all, or 41.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (32).
Is Williams 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 Williams Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Williams 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 Williams Township?
By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 32 paid, $1.4M.
Is Williams Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Williams Township’s rate for it is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Williams Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Williams 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.