Hess, Harold, Lustron House · Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Closter than in 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Closter gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #110 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 38 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 Closter’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Closter 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
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 Closter’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Closter, and Closter’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #110 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Closter’s residents live in 2 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, Closter has less expected damage per building than 77% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.5M a year in losses across Closter: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Closter flood? Sometimes: 38 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Closter, from FEMA’s records: 13.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida8 claims · $368K
- Hurricane Floyd6 claims · $75K
Closter 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.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Closter
Disasters that paid out in Closter itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Closter), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida90 households applied for aid$260K aid approved$113K to the Borough of Closter for repairs8 flood claims paid for it, $368K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$168K to the Borough of Closter for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$20K to the Borough of Closter for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$35K to the Borough of Closter for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy35 households applied for aid$7K aid approved$248K to the Borough of Closter for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$118K to the Borough of Closter for repairs
Show all 11
- 2011Hurricane Irene16 households applied for aid$44K aid approved$45K to the Borough of Closter for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $83K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$31K to the Borough of Closter for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding10 households applied for aid$4K aid approved$94K to the Borough of Closter for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding38 households applied for aid$37K aid approved$19K to the Borough of Closter for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$24K to the Borough of Closter for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $75K
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 Closter after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Closter archive →Closter and its neighbors
Closter is 5th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Haworth | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Emerson | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| Norwood | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Closter | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
| Demarest | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Harrington Park | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
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 Closter 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.
- 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 Closter
Is Closter at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Closter has lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #110 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Closter flood?
Flood insurance has paid 38 claims in Closter since 1979, $682K in all, or 13.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (8).
Is Closter 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 Closter?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Closter’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 Closter?
By FEMA money that reached Closter, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 90 households applied for aid, $260K approved, and $113K to the Borough of Closter for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 8 paid, $368K.
Is Closter at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Closter’s rate for it is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Closter.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Closter’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.