Northampton County Emergency Management Services

05/25/2026

“The brave may fall, but never yield.”
~ Author Unknown

05/17/2026

🚑 National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week is May 17th - 23rd 🚑

In 1974, President Gerald Ford authorized EMS Week to celebrate EMS practitioners and the important work they do in our nation's communities.

EMS Week brings together local communities and medical personnel to honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine's "front line." Whether celebrated with a company cookout or a catered lunch; an open house, an awards ceremony or even quiet reflection about what it means to be an EMS practitioner, EMS Week is the perfect time to recognize EMS and all that its practitioners do for our nation.

During this week we wanted to take the time to show our appreciation for all of the “front line” EMS agencies and/or provides not only within Northampton County but across the nation. Your dedication and caring has helped to save the lives of many! Thank you for all that you do!

05/10/2026

🚓 National Police Week is May 10th thru 16th 🚓

What is National Police Week?
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. Each May, during National Police Week, the United States recognizes the service and sacrifice of U.S. law enforcement and pays tribute to those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

We wanted to take the time to say Thank You to all men & women who don the uniform. The selfless dedication you all provide to the communities that you serve within Northampton County (and beyond) shall never go unnoticed. We appreciate and applaud your efforts, thank you!

05/04/2026

⛈️ National Hurricane Preparedness Week is May 3rd – 9th ⛈️

Did you know that the Atlantic Hurricane Season typically runs from June 1st through November 30th? Between June 1st and November 30th is the period when we are MOST LIKELY to experience hurricane type events forming in the Atlantic Ocean.

Locally we may not experience the hurricanes at their peak however, the path of many recent hurricane remnants have tracked over Northampton County and the Lehigh Valley. These remnants typically bring strong winds and heavy rains that cause numerous flooding issues and widespread damages. With that in mind we feel it is important to share some useful tips and information (provided by NOAA NWS) to help our residents, businesses and visitors to be better prepared for these events.

👉 KNOW YOUR RISK - WIND & WATER: The first step of preparing for hurricanes is to know your risk. Find out today what types of water and wind hazards could happen where you live. Hurricanes are not just a coastal problem. Impacts from wind and water can be felt hundreds of miles inland, and significant impacts can occur regardless of the storm’s strength. Know if you live in an area prone to flooding, if you live in an evacuation zone, and identify any structural weaknesses in your home.
noaa.gov/know-your-risk-water-wind

✅ Where are the flood-prone areas around your home? https://ncem-pa.org/is-my-home-in-a-floodplain/

(Image credit: NOAA's National Weather Service)Download Image Find out today what types of wind and water hazards could happen where you live. Hurricanes are not just a coastal problem. Impacts from wind and water can be felt hundreds of miles inland, and significant impacts can occur regardless o

04/10/2026

🖤💛🖤 National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NPSTW) is April 12 - 18, 2026 🖤💛🖤

Police, fire and medical services personnel get a lot of praise, and rightfully so. They do the work that many of us don’t want to do. They save lives and keep us safe each and every day❗️

But have you ever wondered who the person is behind your emergency calls to 9️⃣1️⃣1️⃣?

All we know about them is their voice and that this very person may have just spoken to someone who lost a loved one, calmed down a caller on a catastrophic scene or taught someone over the phone how to administer CPR to help save a life! These dedicated Telecommunicators / dispatchers are often referred to as “unsung heroes” who are often forgotten in the rush to show appreciation to first responders. These professionals work tirelessly and flawlessly to help save countless lives each day among the laundry list of other tasks they are expected to perform!

For this reason is why NPSTW has been set aside to recognize and celebrate the work of these heroes‼️

📞 What is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week?
- NPSTW is held annually during the second week of April to honor telecommunications personnel for their commitment, service, and sacrifice. NPSTW initially started in 1981 by Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office in California. In 1994, President William J. Clinton signed Presidential Proclamation 6667, declaring the second week of April as NPSTW.

Help make this NPSTW 2026 a memorable one by taking a moment to celebrate and thank telecommunications personnel across the Nation who serve our communities, citizens, and public safety personnel 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To learn more about the history of NPSTW, visit NPSTW.org.

🎉 We would like to take this time to share a very special, loud and warm THANK YOU to our very own dedicated and selfless 911 staff helping to protect us right here in Northampton County! 🎉

03/30/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2026

[Northampton County, PA] – On Tuesday March 31, motorists can expect part of Institute Drive to be closed in the Totts Gap Conservation Area for the next several weeks to protect breeding amphibians. The closure will extend from Totts Gap Road west on Institute Drive for about one-half mile to allow for amphibian migrations to breeding pools without the risk of being crushed by vehicle tires.

In partnership with Upper Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County Parks, Recreation and Conservation is taking steps to protect migrating amphibians by closing the eastern half of Institute Drive through the County’s Totts Gap Conservation Area from March 31 through May 1.

The trigger for the crossing will be a forecast calling for evening rain with mild temperatures, generally above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Since amphibians (frogs, toads, and salamanders) are primarily active at night, you can observe their migration from dusk until dawn as long as conditions remain favorable.

“Recommendations from the County’s Minsi Lake Corridor Greenway & Stewardship plan highlight the need for protection of critical landscapes. This temporary closure is a major step in the ongoing efforts of provide sustainable conservation practices,” said Bryan Cope, Parks, Recreation and Conservation Administrator with Northampton County.

The woodlands on either side of Institute Drive are home to the largest concentration of natural seasonal pools and associated species of amphibians anywhere in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Some of these species are listed as threatened and endangered by the PA Fish & Boat Commission, which oversees the Commonwealth’s fish, reptiles, and amphibians.

For more information on the natural phenomenon of springtime amphibian migrations and how motorists can help protect them in their travels, log onto https://www.shaverscreek.org/2016/04/18/amphibians-on-the-move/.
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03/25/2026

Did you know flooding is the most common disaster in the United States❓

In 2024 flooding caused $182.7 billion dollars in damages which is beyond the average damages of $149.3 billion per year the previous five years.

What is a flood / flooding?
- Flooding is the temporary condition of partial or complete inundation on normally dry land and it is the most frequent and costly of all hazards in Pennsylvania. Flooding events are generally the result of excessive precipitation. General flooding is typically experienced when precipitation occurs over a given river basin for an extended period of time. Flash flooding is usually a result of heavy localized precipitation falling in a short time period over a given location, often along mountain streams and in urban areas where much of the ground is covered by impervious surfaces. The severity of a flood event is dependent upon a combination of stream and river basin topography and physiography, hydrology, precipitation and weather patterns, present soil moisture conditions, the degree of vegetative clearing as well as the presence of impervious surfaces in and around flood prone areas (NOAA, 2009).

Winter flooding can include ice jams which occur when warm temperatures and heavy rain cause snow to melt rapidly. Snow melt combined with heavy rains can cause frozen rivers to swell, which breaks the ice layer on top of a river. The ice layer often breaks into large chunks, which float downstream, piling up in narrow passages and near other obstructions such as bridges and dams. All forms of flooding can damage infrastructure (USACE, 2007).
- For more information on floods visit: https://ncem-pa.org/all-about-floods/ .
https://youtu.be/4PXj7bOD7IY

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