Northampton County Emergency Management Services is working with FEMA Joint Assessment Teams, PEMA, and municipal officials to conduct assessments for both individual assistance and public assistance following the severe flash flooding event that took place on Sunday, July 16, 2023. FEMA Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments teams visited Northampton County to complete assessments on August 2nd, August 3rd, August 8th, and August 9th. “Unfortunately, assistance from the federal government is not guaranteed,” says County Executive Lamont G. McClure.

As of today, Monday, August 14, 2023: 

13 total public entities reported municipal damages:

• Bangor Borough (infrastructure, roadways)
• County of Northampton (bridges)
• East Bangor Borough (roadways)
• Forks Township (infrastructure, roadways)
• Lower Mount Bethel Township (roadways)
• Nazareth Borough(roadways, park)
• Palmer Township (infrastructure, parks/recreation)
• Pen Argyl Borough(roads)
• Plainfield Township (infrastructure, roadways)
• Stockertown Borough (park, recreational trail)
• Tatamy Borough (municipal park)
• Washington Township (infrastructure, roadways)
• West Easton(roadways)

Seven municipalities have enacted Disaster Declarations due to damages sustained:

• Bangor Borough (7/17)
• Forks Township (7/20)
• Lower Mount Bethel Township (7/16)
• Palmer Township (7/21)
• Plainfield Township (7/18)
• Upper Mount Bethel Township (7/20)
• Washington Township (7/17)

Preliminary Public Assistance Damage Cost Estimate:

Accumulatively (county-wide) damages are currently estimated to be $10,181,006.57, with some of the affected municipalities still working to report their estimated costs.

This estimated cost to date includes:

• $400,000 in damages to county bridges;
• $1.6 million in damages reported in Forks Township;
• $1 million + in damages in Lower Mount Bethel Township; and
• $3.7 million in damages in Palmer Township.
• The 2022-2023 Public Assistance County & State Threshold Figures state that Northampton County must accumulatively (municipalities and County) document a minimum of $1,389,502.44 in Public Assistance damages. In addition, the Commonwealth must document (all counties and state agencies) a minimum of $23,014,795 for any county or the Commonwealth to be awarded a Disaster Declaration.

A total of 315 residential units were assessed during the FEMA Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments team visit. The 315 units were from within the following fifteen municipalities:

• Bangor Borough – 59
• Bushkill Township – 1
• East Bangor Borough – 7
• Forks Township – 17
• Lower Mount Bethel Township – 121
• Nazareth Borough – 4
• Palmer Township – 2
• Plainfield Township – 20
• Portland Borough – 1
• Stockertown Borough – 5
• Upper Mount Bethel Township – 9
• Upper Nazareth Township – 1
• Washington Township – 65
• Wilson Borough – 2

The 315 residential properties/units were assessed as follows:

• 6 properties were assessed as INACCESSIBLE
• 125 properties were assessed as experiencing AFFECTED damages
• 169 properties were assessed as experiencing MINOR damages
• 14 properties were assessed as experiencing MAJOR damages
• 5 properties were assessed as being DESTROYED

NOTE: Some properties listed as “INACCESSIBLE” were also assessed for damages

(EX: assessed as experiencing MINOR damages, but ALSO listed as INACCESSIBLE)

 

 
Information provided to TVL by:
Brittney Waylen | Deputy Director of Administration
Northampton County Government Center
669 Washington Street
Easton, PA 18042
https://www.northamptoncounty.org/

 

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