Photo: Jim.henderson · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Bayonne as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bayonne gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #177 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 126 claims here since 1979.
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 stands out about Bayonne’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bayonne 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
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 Bayonne’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bayonne, and Bayonne’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 1%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #177 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bayonne’s residents live in 18 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical New Jersey town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, Bayonne has less expected damage per building than 62% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $13.9M a year in losses across Bayonne: $10.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bayonne flood? Yes: 126 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bayonne, from FEMA’s records: 4.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida53 claims · $1.9M
- Hurricane Sandy23 claims · $1.4M
- Hurricane Irene7 claims · $65K
Bayonne isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hudson County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bayonne
Disasters that paid out in Bayonne itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Bayonne), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida1,213 households applied for aid$3.5M aid approved$294K to the City of Bayonne for repairs53 flood claims paid for it, $1.9M
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$198K to the City of Bayonne for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy4,364 households applied for aid$4.7M aid approved$1.8M to the City of Bayonne for repairs23 flood claims paid for it, $1.4M
- 2011Hurricane Irene261 households applied for aid$217K aid approved$76K to the City of Bayonne for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $65K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$251K to the City of Bayonne for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding42 households applied for aid$34K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
Hudson County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe 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 Bayonne after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bayonne archive →Bayonne and its neighbors
Bayonne is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 36,272 |
| Elizabeth | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 228 |
| Bayonne | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 126 |
| Newark | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 222 |
| Jersey City | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 1,361 |
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 Bayonne 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.
- 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 Bayonne
Is Bayonne at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bayonne has lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #177 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and earthquakes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bayonne flood?
Flood insurance has paid 126 claims in Bayonne since 1979, $3.9M in all, or 4.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 16 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (53).
Is Bayonne 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 Hudson County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bayonne?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bayonne’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 Bayonne?
By FEMA money that reached Bayonne, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 4,364 households applied for aid, $4.7M approved, and $1.8M to the City of Bayonne for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 53 paid, $1.9M.
Is Bayonne at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Bayonne’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bayonne.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bayonne’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.