Northampton County
Pennsylvania — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 90th
Northampton County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 90.0, 90th national percentile), driven primarily by winter weather and heat wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $90M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Winter Weather | High | 14.21 / yr | $940K |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 5.95 / yr | $5M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 3.32 / yr | $63M |
| Lightning | High | 34.58 / yr | $2M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.06 / yr | $5M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $3M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.00 / yr | $5M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 6.13 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.17 / yr | $4M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.24 / yr | $11K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 1.67 / yr | $259K |
| Drought | Low | 1.86 / yr | $228K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $173 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $14K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.57 / yr | $107K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Northampton County?
Northampton County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 90.0 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 90th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Northampton County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Winter Weather (High, $940K EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $5M EAL), Riverine Flood (High, $63M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Northampton County compare to other Pennsylvania counties?
Northampton County ranks #13 of 67 Pennsylvania counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Northampton County's $90M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.