Every federal disaster in Bethlehem since 1955
Each square is a disaster or emergency declaration by the President or FEMA that covered Northampton County. Declarations make federal aid available after hurricanes, floods, storms, fires and other events, so this is a record of the big ones.
- Declarations
- 29since 1955
- Major disasters
- 22the most serious kind
- Since 2000
- 17declarations
- Most recent
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Northampton County's overall natural hazard risk relatively moderate, led by inland flooding, winter weather and lightning. The history above shows what has actually happened; the risk index estimates what is likely.
All declarations
| Declared | Event | Type | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 10, 2021 | Remnants of Hurricane Ida | Major disaster | DR-4618 |
| Mar 30, 2020 | COVID-19 Pandemic | Major disaster | DR-4506 |
| Mar 13, 2020 | COVID-19 | Emergency | EM-3441 |
| Nov 27, 2018 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-4408 |
| Mar 23, 2016 | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm | Major disaster | DR-4267 |
| Jan 10, 2013 | Hurricane Sandy | Major disaster | DR-4099 |
| Oct 29, 2012 | Hurricane Sandy | Emergency | EM-3356 |
| Sep 12, 2011 | Tropical Storm Lee | Major disaster | DR-4030 |
| Sep 8, 2011 | Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee | Emergency | EM-3340 |
| Sep 3, 2011 | Hurricane Irene | Major disaster | DR-4025 |
| Aug 29, 2011 | Hurricane Irene | Emergency | EM-3339 |
| Jun 30, 2006 | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides | Major disaster | DR-1649 |
| Sep 10, 2005 | Hurricane Katrina | Emergency | EM-3235 |
| Apr 14, 2005 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1587 |
| Sep 19, 2004 | Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances | Major disaster | DR-1555 |
| Sep 19, 2004 | Tropical Depression Ivan | Major disaster | DR-1557 |
| Mar 14, 2003 | Snow | Emergency | EM-3180 |
| Jan 21, 1996 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1093 |
| Jan 13, 1996 | Blizzard of 96 | Major disaster | DR-1085 |
| Mar 10, 1994 | Severe Winter Storms | Major disaster | DR-1015 |
| Mar 16, 1993 | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm | Emergency | EM-3105 |
| Jul 17, 1973 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-400 |
| Jun 23, 1972 | Tropical Storm Agnes | Major disaster | DR-340 |
| Aug 18, 1965 | Water Shortage | Major disaster | DR-206 |
| Jan 23, 1959 | Floods | Major disaster | DR-89 |
| Aug 9, 1956 | Storm | Major disaster | DR-61 |
| May 21, 1956 | Severe Storm | Major disaster | DR-58 |
| Mar 15, 1956 | Flood | Major disaster | DR-51 |
| Aug 20, 1955 | Floods & Rains | Major disaster | DR-40 |
Frequently asked questions
How many federal disasters has Bethlehem had?
Since 1955, the federal government has issued 29 disaster or emergency declarations covering Northampton County, including 22 major disaster declarations. 17 of them came in 2000 or later.
What was the most recent federal disaster in Bethlehem?
Remnants of Hurricane Ida (Major disaster, declared September 10, 2021).
What kinds of disasters hit Bethlehem most often?
By FEMA incident type: flood (8), severe storm (8), hurricane (7) and snowstorm (3).
New to Bethlehem? The city profile covers flood maps and emergency alerts, and the risk summary shows FEMA's hazard ratings.
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), downloaded October 18, 2026. We list declarations that named Northampton County, plus early statewide declarations from before FEMA designated individual counties. "Major disaster" declarations bring the widest federal aid; "emergency" declarations cover shorter-term help; "fire management" declarations help pay to fight large wildfires.