Photo: Zeete · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Bernardsville than in 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bernardsville gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #136 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 23 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 stands out about Bernardsville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bernardsville 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 Bernardsville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bernardsville, and Bernardsville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
B #136 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bernardsville’s residents live in 2 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, Bernardsville has less expected damage per building than 71% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.6M a year in losses across Bernardsville: $3.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bernardsville flood? Sometimes: 23 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bernardsville, from FEMA’s records: 8.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida6 claims · $158K
- Hurricane Irene2 claims · $27K
- Hurricane Floyd2 claims · $10K
Bernardsville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Somerset County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bernardsville
Disasters that paid out in Bernardsville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Bernardsville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida38 households applied for aid$30K aid approved$381K to the Borough of Bernardsville for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $158K
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$65K to the Borough of Bernardsville for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$39K to the Borough of Bernardsville for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy169 households applied for aid$5K aid approved$2.6M to the Borough of Bernardsville for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $1K
- 2011Severe Storm$73K to the Borough of Bernardsville for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene25 households applied for aid$23K aid approved$42K to the Borough of Bernardsville for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $27K
Show all 9
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$47K to the Borough of Bernardsville for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$14K to the Borough of Bernardsville for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$16K to the Borough of Bernardsville for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $10K
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 Bernardsville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bernardsville archive →Bernardsville and its neighbors
Bernardsville has the lowest expected damage per building of the 5 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bernardsville | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Bernards Township | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 69 |
| Mendham Township | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Harding Township | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Peapack and Gladstone | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Basking Ridge | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Far Hills | — | 948 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Bernardsville 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Bernardsville
Is Bernardsville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bernardsville has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #136 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bernardsville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 23 claims in Bernardsville since 1978, $304K in all, or 8.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (6).
Is Bernardsville 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 Bernardsville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bernardsville’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 Bernardsville?
By FEMA money that reached Bernardsville, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 169 households applied for aid, $5K approved, and $2.6M to the Borough of Bernardsville for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 6 paid, $158K.
Is Bernardsville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Bernardsville’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bernardsville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bernardsville’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.