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Littel-Lord FarmsteadLittel-Lord Farmstead · Photo: Josconklin · CC BY-SA 3.0
C+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Berkeley Heights Township · FEMA

FEMA puts Berkeley Heights Township’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Berkeley Heights Township gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #271 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 67 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 89%Hurricanes 4%Earthquakes 4%

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

more than 62%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#271 of 468 in New Jersey
Hazard risk
C+#271 of 468
in New Jersey · higher than 62% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
89% of expected building damage
Flood claims
67
paid since 1979 · $2.0M
Flooded more than once
7
properties · 2 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
9
of 21 declared for Union County
By hazard

What Berkeley Heights 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

89%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Hurricanes Earthquakes Tornadoes Ice storms Strong wind Winter storms Lightning Hail Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingWildfireAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Berkeley Heights Township’s grade

River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Berkeley Heights Township, and Berkeley Heights Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Berkeley Heights Township sits
Berkeley Heights Township
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C+ #271 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Berkeley Heights Township’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding89%Hurricanes4%Earthquakes4%Everything else3%

The typical New Jersey town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, Berkeley Heights Township has more expected damage per building than 58% of New Jersey towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.8M a year in losses across Berkeley Heights Township: $5.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Berkeley Heights Township covers 2 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Berkeley Heights Township flood? Sometimes: 67 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Berkeley Heights Township, from FEMA’s records: 13.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 2 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 1 claim1984: 1 claim1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 1 claim1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 1 claim1994: 2 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 5 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 9 claims2000: 1 claim2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 1 claim2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 12 claims2011: 11 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 1 claim2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 2 claims2019: 1 claim2020: 0 claims2021: 7 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 1 claim2025: 8 claims2026: 0 claims199920102011
19792026
Biggest named events
  • The March 2010 nor’easter12 claims · $128K
  • Hurricane Irene11 claims · $97K
  • Hurricane Floyd9 claims · $69K
67
paid claims since 1979
$2.0M
paid to owners
7
homes flooded more than once
$30K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (2)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Berkeley Heights 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: Union County.
Disasters

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Berkeley Heights Township

Disasters that paid out in Berkeley Heights Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Berkeley Heights Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida97 households applied for aid$181K aid approved$1.3M to Berkeley Heights Township for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $1.0M
  2. 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$82K to Berkeley Heights Township for repairs
  3. 2012Hurricane Sandy108 households applied for aid$9K aid approved$424K to Berkeley Heights Township for repairs
  4. 2011Severe Storm$247K to Berkeley Heights Township for repairs
  5. 2011Hurricane Irene68 households applied for aid$107K aid approved$173K to Berkeley Heights Township for repairs11 flood claims paid for it, $97K
  6. 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$54K to Berkeley Heights Township for repairs
Show all 9
  1. 2010Severe Storms and Flooding7 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
  2. 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding6 households applied for aid$2K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
  3. 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$70K to Berkeley Heights Township for repairs9 flood claims paid for it, $69K
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Berkeley Heights TownshipUnion County only

Union County has had 21 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Berkeley Heights Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Berkeley Heights Township archive →
Next door

Berkeley Heights Township and its neighbors

Berkeley Heights Township is 4th of the 8 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Watchung: hazard risk C−Scotch Plains Township: hazard risk DMountainside: hazard risk BGillette: not gradedLong Hill Township: hazard risk C−New Providence: hazard risk C−Chatham Township: not gradedWarren Township: hazard risk B−Summit: hazard risk B−WatchungScotch Plains TownshipMountainsideGilletteLong Hill TownshipNew ProvidenceChatham TownshipWarren TownshipSummitBerkeley Heights Township
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
MountainsideBless damage than 62%river and rain flooding15
SummitB−less damage than 53%river and rain flooding61
Warren TownshipB−less damage than 50%river and rain flooding40
Berkeley Heights TownshipC+more damage than 62%river and rain flooding67
WatchungC−more damage than 83%river and rain flooding24
Long Hill TownshipC−more damage than 83%river and rain flooding150
New ProvidenceC−more damage than 83%river and rain flooding65
Scotch Plains TownshipDmore damage than 86%river and rain flooding225
Gillette—a Census area inside a town; graded with the town
Chatham Township—not graded yet

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Berkeley Heights 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.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Berkeley Heights Township

Is Berkeley Heights Township at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Berkeley Heights Township has higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #271 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Berkeley Heights Township flood?

Flood insurance has paid 67 claims in Berkeley Heights Township since 1979, $2.0M in all, or 13.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from March 2010 Nor'easter (12).

Is Berkeley Heights 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 Union County, 49% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.9% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Berkeley Heights Township?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Berkeley Heights 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 Berkeley Heights Township?

By FEMA money that reached Berkeley Heights Township, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 97 households applied for aid, $181K approved, and $1.3M to Berkeley Heights Township for repairs. By flood claims, March 2010 Nor'easter: 12 paid, $128K.

Is Berkeley Heights Township at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Berkeley Heights Township’s rate for it is higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Berkeley Heights Township.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Berkeley Heights 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.