Vanness-Linen House · Photo: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Bloomingdale than in 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bloomingdale gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #447 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 68 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 Bloomingdale’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bloomingdale 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 Bloomingdale’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bloomingdale, and Bloomingdale’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
D #447 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Bloomingdale’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New Jersey town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, Bloomingdale has more expected damage per building than 96% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.7M a year in losses across Bloomingdale: $3.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bloomingdale flood? Sometimes: 68 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bloomingdale, from FEMA’s records: 22.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene14 claims · $184K
- The March 2010 nor’easter14 claims · $803K
- The Late winter storms7 claims · $60K
Bloomingdale is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Passaic County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bloomingdale
Disasters that paid out in Bloomingdale itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Bloomingdale), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida46 households applied for aid$44K aid approved$7K to the Borough of Bloomingdale for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$39K to the Borough of Bloomingdale for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy56 households applied for aid$7K aid approved$291K to the Borough of Bloomingdale for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$15K to the Borough of Bloomingdale for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene69 households applied for aid$199K aid approved$150K to the Borough of Bloomingdale for repairs14 flood claims paid for it, $184K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$22K to the Borough of Bloomingdale for repairs
Show all 10
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding21 households applied for aid$35K aid approved$103K to the Borough of Bloomingdale for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding8 households applied for aid$12K aid approved$21K to the Borough of Bloomingdale for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$2K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$9K to the Borough of Bloomingdale for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $34K
Passaic 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.
Old photos of Bloomingdale after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bloomingdale archive →Bloomingdale and its neighbors
Bloomingdale is 6th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Milford Township | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 104 |
| Ringwood | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Butler | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Wanaque | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
| Riverdale | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 102 |
| Bloomingdale | Dmore damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 68 |
| Pompton Lakes | D−more damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 2,301 |
| Macopin | — | 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 Bloomingdale 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.
- Bloomingdale residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Bloomingdale
Is Bloomingdale at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bloomingdale has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #447 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bloomingdale flood?
Flood insurance has paid 68 claims in Bloomingdale since 1979, $1.3M in all, or 22.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 14 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (14).
Is Bloomingdale 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 Passaic County, 48% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bloomingdale?
Bloomingdale is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% 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 Bloomingdale?
By FEMA money that reached Bloomingdale, Hurricane Irene (2011): 69 households applied for aid, $199K approved, and $150K to the Borough of Bloomingdale for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 14 paid, $184K.
Is Bloomingdale at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Bloomingdale’s rate for it is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bloomingdale.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bloomingdale’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.