Photo: John Bohnel · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Clinton than in 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clinton gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #434 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 47 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 Clinton 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
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 Clinton’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Clinton, and Clinton’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 4%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
D #434 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Clinton’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New Jersey town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, Clinton has more expected damage per building than 93% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.3M a year in losses across Clinton: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Clinton flood? Sometimes: 47 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Clinton, from FEMA’s records: 43.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida7 claims · $153K
- Hurricane Floyd5 claims · $26K
- Hurricane Irene4 claims · $94K
Clinton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hunterdon County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Clinton
Disasters that paid out in Clinton itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Clinton), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida19 households applied for aid$18K aid approved7 flood claims paid for it, $153K
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$21K to the Town of Clinton for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy14 households applied for aid$100K to the Town of Clinton for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$6K to the Town of Clinton for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$3K to the Town of Clinton for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene10 households applied for aid$12K aid approved$16K to the Town of Clinton for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $94K
Show all 8
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$3K to the Town of Clinton for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $26K
Hunterdon County has had 18 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 Clinton after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Clinton archive →Clinton and its neighbors
Clinton is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union Township | A−less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 441 |
| Franklin Township | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Clinton Township | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Clinton | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 47 |
| Annandale | — | 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 Clinton 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.
- 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 Clinton
Is Clinton at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Clinton has higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #434 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Clinton flood?
Flood insurance has paid 47 claims in Clinton since 1978, $630K in all, or 43.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (7).
Is Clinton 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 Hunterdon County, 66% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Clinton?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Clinton’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 Clinton?
By FEMA money that reached Clinton, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 14 households applied for aid, $0 approved, and $100K to the Town of Clinton for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 7 paid, $153K.
Is Clinton at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Clinton’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Clinton.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Clinton’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.