Photo: Zeete · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Bernards Township 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, Bernards Township 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 69 claims here since 1996.
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 Bernards Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bernards 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
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 Bernards Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bernards Township, and Bernards Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 70% 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).
Bernards Township’s residents live in 5 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, Bernards Township has less expected damage per building than 58% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.8M a year in losses across Bernards Township: $9.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bernards Township flood? Sometimes: 69 flood claims since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bernards Township, from FEMA’s records: 6.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida23 claims · $1.4M
- Hurricane Floyd15 claims · $302K
- Hurricane Irene9 claims · $199K
Bernards Township is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Somerset County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bernards Township
Disasters that paid out in Bernards Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Bernards Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida$361K to Bernards Township for repairs23 flood claims paid for it, $1.4M
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$204K to Bernards Township for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$460K to Bernards Township for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$167K to Bernards Township for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$21K to Bernards Township for repairs9 flood claims paid for it, $199K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$109K to Bernards Township for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 7
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$36K to Bernards Township for repairs15 flood claims paid for it, $302K
Somerset County has had 22 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 Bernards Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bernards Township archive →Bernards Township and its neighbors
Bernards Township 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bernardsville | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Warren Township | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 40 |
| Bernards Township | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 69 |
| Harding Township | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Long Hill Township | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 150 |
| Basking Ridge | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Millington | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Lyons | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Far Hills | — | 948 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Liberty Corner | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| The Hills | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Bernards 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.
- 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.
- Bernards Township residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Bernards Township
Is Bernards Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bernards Township 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%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bernards Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 69 claims in Bernards Township since 1996, $2.3M in all, or 6.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (23).
Is Bernards 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 Somerset County, 53% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bernards Township?
Bernards Township is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Bernards Township?
By FEMA money that reached Bernards Township, Hurricane Sandy (2012): $460K to Bernards Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 23 paid, $1.4M.
Is Bernards Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Bernards Township’s rate for it is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bernards Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bernards 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.