Photo: Freeholdman12 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Bridgewater Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bridgewater Township gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #256 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 225 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 Bridgewater Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bridgewater 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 Bridgewater Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bridgewater Township, and Bridgewater Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #256 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bridgewater Township’s residents live in 9 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, Bridgewater Township has more expected damage per building than 55% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $22.5M a year in losses across Bridgewater Township: $19.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bridgewater Township flood? Yes: 225 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bridgewater Township, from FEMA’s records: 13.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida62 claims · $5.9M
- Hurricane Irene48 claims · $1.7M
- Hurricane Floyd37 claims · $1.2M
Bridgewater 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: Somerset County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bridgewater Township
Disasters that paid out in Bridgewater Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Bridgewater Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida831 households applied for aid$3.4M aid approved$1.9M to Bridgewater Township for repairs62 flood claims paid for it, $5.9M
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$555K to Bridgewater Township for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$200K to Bridgewater Township for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy439 households applied for aid$76K aid approved$993K to Bridgewater Township for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storm$150K to Bridgewater Township for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene271 households applied for aid$578K aid approved$433K to Bridgewater Township for repairs48 flood claims paid for it, $1.7M
Show all 10
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$117K to Bridgewater Township for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding12 households applied for aid$34K aid approved$31K to Bridgewater Township for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding23 households applied for aid$23K aid approved$10K to Bridgewater Township for repairs11 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$226K to Bridgewater Township for repairs37 flood claims paid for it, $1.2M
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 Bridgewater Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bridgewater Township archive →Bridgewater Township and its neighbors
Bridgewater Township has the lowest expected damage per building of the 7 graded towns here. 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 |
| Bedminster Township | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 37 |
| Branchburg Township | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 185 |
| Somerville | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 182 |
| Manville | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 1,676 |
| Middlesex | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 977 |
| Bound Brook | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 1,809 |
| Bridgewater Center | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Martinsville | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Finderne | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Bradley Gardens | — | 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 Bridgewater 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Bridgewater Township
Is Bridgewater Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bridgewater Township has higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #256 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 Bridgewater Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 225 claims in Bridgewater Township since 1978, $9.4M in all, or 13.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 16 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (62).
Is Bridgewater 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 Bridgewater Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Bridgewater 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 Bridgewater Township?
By FEMA money that reached Bridgewater Township, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 831 households applied for aid, $3.4M approved, and $1.9M to Bridgewater Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 62 paid, $5.9M.
Is Bridgewater Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Bridgewater Township’s rate for it is higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bridgewater Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bridgewater 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.