Photo: Nathaniel R. Ewan, HABS Photographer · Public domainFEMA puts Alloway Township’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Alloway Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #94 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1989.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Alloway Township faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Strong wind
Earthquakes
Hurricanes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Alloway Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Alloway Township, and Alloway Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 10%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #94 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Alloway Township’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New Jersey town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, Alloway Township has less expected damage per building than 80% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Alloway Township: $929K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Alloway Township flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1989
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Alloway Township, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Alloway Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Salem County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Alloway Township
Disasters that paid out in Alloway Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Alloway Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$5K to Alloway Township for repairs
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds$7K to Alloway Township for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene13 households applied for aid$51K aid approved$56K to Alloway Township for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding$5K to Alloway Township for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$7K to Alloway Township for repairs
- 2009Snowstorm$7K to Alloway Township for repairs
Salem County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Alloway Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Alloway Township archive →Alloway Township and its neighbors
Alloway Township is 2nd of the 5 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hopewell Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Alloway Township | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Stow Creek Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Quinton Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Mannington Township | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Alloway Township faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Alloway Township
Is Alloway Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Alloway Township has lower expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #94 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and strong wind (10%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Alloway Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Alloway Township since 1989, $4K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Alloway Township in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Salem County, 39% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 7.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Alloway Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Alloway Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Alloway Township?
By FEMA money that reached Alloway Township, Hurricane Irene (2011): 13 households applied for aid, $51K approved, and $56K to Alloway Township for repairs.
Is Alloway Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Alloway Township’s rate for it is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Alloway Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Alloway Township’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.