Photo: Jared Kofsky/Placenj.com · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Carteret than in 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Carteret gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #119 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%), then earthquakes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 196 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 Carteret’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Carteret 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
Earthquakes
Strong wind
Coastal 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 Carteret’s grade
River and rain flooding is 65% of the building damage FEMA expects in Carteret, and Carteret’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 7%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #119 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Carteret’s residents live in 6 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, Carteret has less expected damage per building than 75% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.2M a year in losses across Carteret: $4.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Carteret flood? Yes: 196 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Carteret, from FEMA’s records: 22.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy63 claims · $2.5M
- Hurricane Ida38 claims · $1.4M
- Hurricane Irene34 claims · $491K
Carteret isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Middlesex County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Carteret
Disasters that paid out in Carteret itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Carteret), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida525 households applied for aid$2.0M aid approved$3.1M to the Borough of Carteret for repairs38 flood claims paid for it, $1.4M
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$80K to the Borough of Carteret for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy1,403 households applied for aid$2.8M aid approved$2.1M to the Borough of Carteret for repairs63 flood claims paid for it, $2.5M
- 2011Severe Storm$12K to the Borough of Carteret for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene360 households applied for aid$868K aid approved$410K to the Borough of Carteret for repairs34 flood claims paid for it, $491K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$63K to the Borough of Carteret for repairs
Show all 9
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding11 households applied for aid$35K aid approved$86K to the Borough of Carteret for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding40 households applied for aid$39K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$18K to the Borough of Carteret for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Middlesex 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 Carteret after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Carteret archive →Carteret and its neighbors
Carteret is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 36,272 |
| Linden | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 299 |
| Carteret | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 196 |
| Woodbridge Township | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 597 |
| Avenel | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Port Reading | — | 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 Carteret 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- 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.
- 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 Carteret
Is Carteret at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Carteret has lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #119 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (65%) and earthquakes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Carteret flood?
Flood insurance has paid 196 claims in Carteret since 1979, $4.8M in all, or 22.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 45 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (63).
Is Carteret 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 Middlesex County, 54% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Carteret?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Carteret’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 Carteret?
By FEMA money that reached Carteret, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 525 households applied for aid, $2.0M approved, and $3.1M to the Borough of Carteret for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 63 paid, $2.5M.
Is Carteret at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (65%), and Carteret’s rate for it is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Carteret.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Carteret’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.