Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Clifton than in 69% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clifton gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns, #101 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%). Flood insurance has paid 125 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 Clifton’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Clifton 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
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 Clifton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Clifton, and Clifton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 9% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #101 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Clifton’s residents live in 18 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, Clifton has less expected damage per building than 79% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $17.5M a year in losses across Clifton: $13.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Clifton flood? Yes: 125 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Clifton, from FEMA’s records: 3.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 52% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida36 claims · $4.3M
- Hurricane Irene23 claims · $1.7M
- Hurricane Floyd15 claims · $819K
Clifton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Passaic County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Clifton
Disasters that paid out in Clifton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Clifton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida2,040 households applied for aid$7.2M aid approved$1.1M to the City of Clifton for repairs36 flood claims paid for it, $4.3M
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$52K to the City of Clifton for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy1,081 households applied for aid$30K aid approved$673K to the City of Clifton for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $169K
- 2011Severe Storm$204K to the City of Clifton for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$391K to the City of Clifton for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene597 households applied for aid$984K aid approved$121K to the City of Clifton for repairs23 flood claims paid for it, $1.7M
Show all 11
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$100K to the City of Clifton for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding33 households applied for aid$17K aid approved$110K to the City of Clifton for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding197 households applied for aid$348K aid approved$62K to the City of Clifton for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding8 households applied for aid$17K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$84K to the City of Clifton for repairs15 flood claims paid for it, $819K
Passaic 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 Clifton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Clifton archive →Clifton and its neighbors
Clifton is 2nd of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montclair Township | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 223 |
| Clifton | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 125 |
| Passaic | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 140 |
| Garfield | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 307 |
| Paterson | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 1,078 |
| Woodland Park | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 572 |
| Nutley Township | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 251 |
| Little Falls Township | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 1,657 |
| Rutherford | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 237 |
| Montclair State University | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Upper Montclair | — | 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 Clifton 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.
- 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 Clifton
Is Clifton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clifton has lower expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #101 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and earthquakes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Clifton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 125 claims in Clifton since 1978, $7.8M in all, or 3.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 52% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 13 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (36).
Is Clifton 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 Passaic County, 48% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Clifton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Clifton’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 Clifton?
By FEMA money that reached Clifton, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 2,040 households applied for aid, $7.2M approved, and $1.1M to the City of Clifton for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 36 paid, $4.3M.
Is Clifton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Clifton’s rate for it is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Clifton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Clifton’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.