On FEMA’s figures, Wilson 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, Wilson gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #734 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2011.
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 Wilson 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
Earthquakes
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 Wilson’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wilson, and Wilson’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #734 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wilson’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, Wilson has more expected damage per building than 71% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.1M a year in losses across Wilson: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wilson flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2011
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wilson, from FEMA’s records: 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $22K
- Hurricane Isaias1 claim · $162K
Wilson 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 Wilson remembers
None of the 18 disasters declared for Northampton County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Wilson itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 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 Wilson after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wilson archive →Wilson and its neighbors
Wilson is 2nd of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palmer Township | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
| Wilson | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Easton | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 233 |
| West Easton | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
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 Wilson 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Wilson
Is Wilson at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wilson has lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #734 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Wilson flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Wilson since 2011, $184K in all, or 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (1).
Is Wilson 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 Wilson?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wilson’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 Wilson?
By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 1 paid, $22K.
Is Wilson at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Wilson’s rate for it is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wilson.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wilson’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.