FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Cliffside Park as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cliffside Park gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #211 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2023.
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 Cliffside Park 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
Hurricanes
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 Cliffside Park’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cliffside Park, and Cliffside Park’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #211 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cliffside Park’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, Cliffside Park has less expected damage per building than 55% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.8M a year in losses across Cliffside Park: $3.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cliffside Park flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2023
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cliffside Park, from FEMA’s records: 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Cliffside Park isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Bergen County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Cliffside Park
Disasters that paid out in Cliffside Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Cliffside Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida275 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved$1.0M to the Borough of Cliffside Park for repairs
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$54K to the Borough of Cliffside Park for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$42K to the Borough of Cliffside Park for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$19K to the Borough of Cliffside Park for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy312 households applied for aid$90K aid approved$449K to the Borough of Cliffside Park for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$12K to the Borough of Cliffside Park for repairs
Show all 10
- 2011Hurricane Irene35 households applied for aid$107K aid approved$45K to the Borough of Cliffside Park for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$39K to the Borough of Cliffside Park for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$7K aid approved$22K to the Borough of Cliffside Park for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding15 households applied for aid$23K aid approved$5K to the Borough of Cliffside Park for repairs
Bergen County has had 23 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 Cliffside Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cliffside Park archive →Cliffside Park and its neighbors
Cliffside Park has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cliffside Park | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Fairview | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Ridgefield | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 106 |
| Edgewater | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 70 |
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 Cliffside Park 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.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- 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 Cliffside Park
Is Cliffside Park at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cliffside Park has higher expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #211 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cliffside Park flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Cliffside Park since 2023, $3K in all, or 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Cliffside Park 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 Bergen County, 41% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cliffside Park?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cliffside Park’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 Cliffside Park?
By FEMA money that reached Cliffside Park, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 275 households applied for aid, $1.1M approved, and $1.0M to the Borough of Cliffside Park for repairs.
Is Cliffside Park at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Cliffside Park’s rate for it is higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cliffside Park.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cliffside Park’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.