Photo: Zeete · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Bound Brook faces more hazard damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bound Brook gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns, #441 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 1,809 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 Bound Brook’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bound Brook 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 Bound Brook’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bound Brook, and Bound Brook’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D #441 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bound Brook’s residents live in 3 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, Bound Brook has more expected damage per building than 94% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.0M a year in losses across Bound Brook: $4.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bound Brook flood? Yes: 1,809 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bound Brook, from FEMA’s records: 384.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The April 2007 nor’easter500 claims · $24.3M
- Hurricane Floyd351 claims · $15.1M
- The March 2010 nor’easter346 claims · $11.0M
Bound Brook 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 Bound Brook
Disasters that paid out in Bound Brook itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Bound Brook), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida351 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved$144K to the Borough of Bound Brook for repairs31 flood claims paid for it, $1.6M
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$135K to the Borough of Bound Brook for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$31K to the Borough of Bound Brook for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy257 households applied for aid$42K aid approved$223K to the Borough of Bound Brook for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene397 households applied for aid$847K aid approved$231K to the Borough of Bound Brook for repairs328 flood claims paid for it, $9.4M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$9K to the Borough of Bound Brook for repairs
Show all 9
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding260 households applied for aid$363K aid approved$250K to the Borough of Bound Brook for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding702 households applied for aid$1.4M aid approved$332K to the Borough of Bound Brook for repairs512 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$1.1M to the Borough of Bound Brook for repairs351 flood claims paid for it, $15.1M
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 Bound Brook after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bound Brook archive →Bound Brook and its neighbors
Bound Brook is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgewater Township | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 225 |
| South Bound Brook | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 83 |
| Middlesex | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 977 |
| Bound Brook | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 1,809 |
| Martinsville | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Finderne | — | 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 Bound Brook 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 Bound Brook
Is Bound Brook at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bound Brook has higher expected damage per building than 91% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #441 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bound Brook flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,809 claims in Bound Brook since 1978, $64.9M in all, or 384.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 468 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from April 2007 Nor'easter (500).
Is Bound Brook 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 Bound Brook?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bound Brook’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 Bound Brook?
By FEMA money that reached Bound Brook, Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding (2007): 702 households applied for aid, $1.4M approved, and $332K to the Borough of Bound Brook for repairs. By flood claims, April 2007 Nor'easter: 500 paid, $24.3M.
Is Bound Brook at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Bound Brook’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bound Brook.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bound Brook’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.