Photo: Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page, my Commons user talk page, or my English Wikipedia user talk page; I'll know about it a lot faster) · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Clark Township faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clark Township gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #209 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 114 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 Clark Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Clark 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
Earthquakes
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 Clark Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Clark Township, and Clark Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 7% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #209 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Clark Township’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, Clark Township has less expected damage per building than 55% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.0M a year in losses across Clark Township: $4.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Clark Township flood? Yes: 114 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Clark Township, from FEMA’s records: 18.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida30 claims · $1.3M
- Hurricane Irene24 claims · $504K
- The 2025 July NYC Metro Area Flooding9 claims · $512K
Clark 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: Union County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Clark Township
Disasters that paid out in Clark Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Clark Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida251 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved$331K to Clark Township for repairs30 flood claims paid for it, $1.3M
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$56K to Clark Township for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy158 households applied for aid$24K aid approved$575K to Clark Township for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Severe Storm$120K to Clark Township for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene138 households applied for aid$272K aid approved$183K to Clark Township for repairs24 flood claims paid for it, $504K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$28K to Clark Township for repairs
Show all 9
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding12 households applied for aid$15K aid approved
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding15 households applied for aid$7K aid approved$29K to Clark Township for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$52K to Clark Township for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $94K
Union 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 Clark Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Clark Township archive →Clark Township and its neighbors
Clark Township is 2nd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linden | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 299 |
| Clark Township | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 114 |
| Cranford Township | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 1,484 |
| Winfield Township | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Rahway | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 887 |
| Scotch Plains Township | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 225 |
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 Clark 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Clark Township
Is Clark Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clark Township has higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #209 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and earthquakes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Clark Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 114 claims in Clark Township since 1978, $2.7M in all, or 18.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 13 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (30).
Is Clark 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 Union County, 49% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Clark Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Clark 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 Clark Township?
By FEMA money that reached Clark Township, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 251 households applied for aid, $1.3M approved, and $331K to Clark Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 30 paid, $1.3M.
Is Clark Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Clark Township’s rate for it is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Clark Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Clark 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.