Northampton County in the Lehigh Valley anchored by Bethlehem faces moderate tornado risk and serious Delaware and Lehigh River flooding. The former Bethlehem Steel plant — once the second largest steel producer in the US — left a legacy industrial brownfield. Ida in 2021 caused catastrophic flooding across the Lehigh Valley. The county is within the Philadelphia metro area's northern commuter zone. Lehigh University and Moravian University create institutional emergency planning requirements.
// Preparedness Recommendations
- Evacuation routes inland should be identified in advance.
- Store at least 72 hours of food and water.
- Elevate critical belongings above flood level.
- Have backup power ready in case of grid failure.
// Recommended Supplies
Essential gear for power outages, severe weather, and emergency situations in your area.
- Emergency Food Supplies
- Water Filtration & Storage
- Backup Generator
- Solar Backup Power
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// Risk Intelligence
| Threat Score | 5 / 10 Moderate Risk |
| Primary Hazard | Tornado / Flash Flooding |
| Secondary Hazard | Delaware River Flooding |
| FEMA Flood Zone | Moderate |
| Federally Declared Disasters | 6 |
| Last Major Event | Ida 2021 |
| Event Frequency | Annual |
// Emergency Operations
| Emergency Mgmt Phone | (610) 829-4100 |
| Emergency Shelters | 10 designated facilities |
| Evacuation Routes | I-78 PA-33 PA-248 PA-191 |
// County Profile
| County | Northampton County PA |
| State | Pennsylvania (PA) |
| Population | 313 |
| Area | 377 sq miles |
| FEMA Region | Moderate |
// Major Cities
// Cities in This County
// Other Pennsylvania Counties
Luzerne County PA
Flash Flooding / Hurricane
7/10
High
Philadelphia County PA
Hurricane / Flooding
6/10
Moderate
Allegheny County PA
Flash Flooding / Tornado
6/10
Moderate
Montgomery County PA
Tornado / Flash Flooding
6/10
Moderate
Cameron County PA
Flash Flooding / Winter Storm
5/10
Low
Armstrong County PA
Flash Flooding / Winter Storm
5/10
Low