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BurlingtonNJ HighStreet 02Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0
D−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Burlington · FEMA

FEMA puts Burlington’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Burlington gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 161 claims here since 1982.

River and rain flooding 88%Coastal flooding 6%Earthquakes 2%

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

more than 98%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade
Hazard risk
D−#467 of 468
in New Jersey · higher than 98% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
88% of expected building damage
Flood claims
161
paid since 1982 · $835K
Flooded more than once
14
properties
Flood insurance
15% off
Community discount (class 7)

What stands out about Burlington’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

161 paid flood claims since 1982$835K in all; 14 properties flooded more than once. More per home than 90% of U.S. towns.15% off flood insuranceFlood-proofing work earns Burlington residents a discount through FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7).Coastal flooding: the top 1% of U.S. tractsFEMA’s building-damage rate for coastal flooding here ranks in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts; it is 5.9% of the damage it expects.Remembers 201164 flood claims were paid for 2011 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Burlington 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

88%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Coastal flooding

6%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Strong wind top 5% Hurricanes Tornadoes Ice storms Wildfire Winter storms Hail Cold waves Heat waves Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
AvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Burlington’s grade

River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Burlington, and Burlington’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 6%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Burlington sits
Burlington
Least damageMiddleMost damage

D− #467 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Burlington’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding88%Coastal flooding6%Everything else6%

The typical New Jersey town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, Burlington has more expected damage per building than 100% of New Jersey towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.6M a year in losses across Burlington: $8.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Burlington covers 4 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Burlington flood? Yes: 161 flood claims since 1982

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Burlington, from FEMA’s records: 38.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1982: 5 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 1 claim1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 1 claim1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 2 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 4 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 1 claim2006: 1 claim2007: 31 claims2008: 1 claim2009: 2 claims2010: 5 claims2011: 64 claims2012: 3 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 3 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 6 claims2018: 2 claims2019: 7 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 9 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 2 claims2024: 11 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims200720112024
19822026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Irene62 claims · $351K
  • The April 2007 nor’easter30 claims · $79K
  • The March 2010 nor’easter5 claims · $7K
161
paid claims since 1982
$835K
paid to owners
14
homes flooded more than once
$5K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
Community discount15% off flood insurance

Burlington is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Burlington County.
Disasters

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Burlington

Disasters that paid out in Burlington itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Burlington), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$14K to the City of Burlington for repairs
  2. 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$98K to the City of Burlington for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
  3. 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$91K to the City of Burlington for repairs
  4. 2012Hurricane Sandy190 households applied for aid$45K aid approved$251K to the City of Burlington for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $70K
  5. 2011Hurricane Irene333 households applied for aid$330K aid approved$50K to the City of Burlington for repairs62 flood claims paid for it, $351K
  6. 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$22K to the City of Burlington for repairs
Show all 11
  1. 2010Severe Storms and Flooding10 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
  2. 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$44K to the City of Burlington for repairs
  3. 2009Snowstorm$34K to the City of Burlington for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
  4. 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding65 households applied for aid$52K aid approved$8K to the City of Burlington for repairs31 flood claims paid that year
  5. 2004Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$826 aid approved
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in BurlingtonBurlington County only

Burlington County has had 22 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.

Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Burlington County, 2007–2007.

Were you here?

Old photos of Burlington after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Burlington archive →
Next door

Burlington and its neighbors

Burlington is 4th of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Burlington Township: hazard risk C−Bristol Township: hazard risk B−Bristol: hazard risk C−Burlington TownshipBristol TownshipBristolBurlington
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
Bristol TownshipB−less damage than 52%river and rain flooding292
Burlington TownshipC−more damage than 80%river and rain flooding29
BristolC−more damage than 84%river and rain flooding49
BurlingtonD−more damage than 98%river and rain flooding161

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Burlington faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
When the tide surges
  • Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
  • Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
  • Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
  • Burlington residents get 15% off flood insurance.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Burlington

Is Burlington at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Burlington has higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and coastal flooding (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Burlington flood?

Flood insurance has paid 161 claims in Burlington since 1982, $835K in all, or 38.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 14 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (62).

Is Burlington 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 Burlington County, 55% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.2% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Burlington?

Burlington 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 Burlington?

By FEMA money that reached Burlington, Hurricane Irene (2011): 333 households applied for aid, $330K approved, and $50K to the City of Burlington for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 62 paid, $351K.

Is Burlington at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Burlington’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Burlington.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Burlington’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.