EASTON, Pa. — Damages across Northampton County from the July 16 flooding have exceeded $7.5 million, with expectations that figure could climb even higher, county Emergency Management Services said.
In a release Friday, the county EMS said it continued to work with municipal officials to gather damage assessments associated with the flash floods.
- Northampton County Emergency Management Services have estimated damage stemming from the July 16 storm at $7.5 million, with figures likely to increase
- Twelve municipalities have reported municipal damages, and seven municipalities have enacted Disaster Declarations due to damages sustained
- At least 210 households across 12 municipalities have also reported damage
EMS will be joined by Federal Emergency Management Agency Joint Assessment Teams, working alongside state EMA and municipal officials, to conduct induvial and public assistance assessments next week.
The estimated cost to date includes roughly $400,000 in damages to county bridges, approximately $1.6 million in damages reported in Forks Township, over $1 million in damages in Lower Mount Bethel Township, and $3.7 million in damages in Palmer Township.Northampton County Emergency Management Services
As of Friday, the county EMS estimated countywide damages at $7.5 million, “with some of the affected municipalities still working to report their estimated costs.”
Listing the damages
The estimated cost to date includes about $400,000 in damages to county bridges, $1.6 million in damages reported in Forks Township, more than $1 million in damages in Lower Mount Bethel Township and $3.7 million in damages in Palmer Township.
According to the 2022-23 Public Assistance and State Threshold Figures, Northampton County must accumulatively document at least $1,389,502.44 in Public Assistance damages to qualify.
In addition, Pennsylvania must document a minimum of $23,014,795 for any county or the commonwealth to be awarded a Disaster Declaration.
At the moment, assistance from the federal government is not guaranteed, the county EMS stated in its release.
So far, 12 municipalities have reported municipal damages:
- Bangor (infrastructure, roadways)
- Northampton County (bridges)
- East Bangor (roadways)
- Forks Township (infrastructure, roadways)
- Lower Mount Bethel Township (roadways)
- Palmer Township (infrastructure, parks/recreation)
- Pen Argyl (roads)
- Plainfield Township (infrastructure, roadways)
- Stockertown (park, recreational trail)
- Tatamy (municipal park)
- Washington Township (infrastructure, roadways)
- West Easton (roadways)
Still time to report
In addition, seven municipalities have enacted Disaster Declarations because of damages: Bangor (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) and Washington Township (7/17).
The county EMS is getting reports of residential damages from more than 210 households across 12 municipalities: Bangor, East Bangor, Nazareth, Portland and Stockertown, and Forks, Lower Mount Bethel, Palmer, Plainfield, Bushkill, Upper Mount Bethel Township and Washington townships.
Residents and business owners were significantly affected by the storm, which drenched Northampton County and produced numerous floods and damage to roadways, bridges, and buildings.
Nazareth reported 4.63 inches the day after the storm, while Easton saw 4 inches by early Monday evening, and Bethlehem topped out at 2.55 inches.
The county EMS continues to encourage those hit by the flood to report damage to their local municipalities and complete the damage questionnaire on the EMS website to start the countywide assessment process that will let FEMA and PEMA get reports from the county.
