Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Squirrel 22~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims). · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Bergenfield faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bergenfield gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns, #197 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 96 claims here since 1978.
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 Bergenfield 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
Hurricanes
Earthquakes
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 Bergenfield’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bergenfield, and Bergenfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #197 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bergenfield’s residents live in 7 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, Bergenfield has less expected damage per building than 58% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.6M a year in losses across Bergenfield: $4.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bergenfield flood? Sometimes: 96 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bergenfield, from FEMA’s records: 10.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene20 claims · $126K
- Hurricane Ida20 claims · $567K
- The April 2007 nor’easter14 claims · $100K
Bergenfield isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Bergen County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bergenfield
Disasters that paid out in Bergenfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Bergenfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida441 households applied for aid$1.5M aid approved$31K to the Borough of Bergenfield for repairs20 flood claims paid for it, $567K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$59K to the Borough of Bergenfield for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$34K to the Borough of Bergenfield for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$74K to the Borough of Bergenfield for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy306 households applied for aid$16K aid approved$294K to the Borough of Bergenfield for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Severe Storm$135K to the Borough of Bergenfield for repairs
Show all 12
- 2011Hurricane Irene271 households applied for aid$482K aid approved$88K to the Borough of Bergenfield for repairs20 flood claims paid for it, $126K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$67K to the Borough of Bergenfield for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding57 households applied for aid$42K aid approved$65K to the Borough of Bergenfield for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding231 households applied for aid$220K aid approved$28K to the Borough of Bergenfield for repairs15 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$294 aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$52K to the Borough of Bergenfield for repairs8 flood claims paid for it, $35K
Bergen County has had 23 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 Bergenfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bergenfield archive →Bergenfield and its neighbors
Bergenfield is 5th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tenafly | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 47 |
| Dumont | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 91 |
| Teaneck Township | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 84 |
| Cresskill | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 74 |
| Bergenfield | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 96 |
| New Milford | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 753 |
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 Bergenfield 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.
- 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Bergenfield
Is Bergenfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bergenfield has higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #197 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bergenfield flood?
Flood insurance has paid 96 claims in Bergenfield since 1978, $1.1M in all, or 10.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (20).
Is Bergenfield 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 Bergen County, 41% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bergenfield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bergenfield’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 Bergenfield?
By FEMA money that reached Bergenfield, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 441 households applied for aid, $1.5M approved, and $31K to the Borough of Bergenfield for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 20 paid, $126K.
Is Bergenfield at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Bergenfield’s rate for it is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bergenfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bergenfield’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.