Photo: Zeete · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Cranbury Township’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 72% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cranbury Township gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns, #340 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 29 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 Cranbury 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 Cranbury Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cranbury Township, and Cranbury Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 4%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C #340 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Cranbury Township’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, Cranbury Township has more expected damage per building than 73% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.9M a year in losses across Cranbury Township: $6.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cranbury Township flood? Sometimes: 29 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cranbury Township, from FEMA’s records: 21.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene14 claims · $616K
- Tropical Storm Henri5 claims · $185K
- The April 2007 nor’easter3 claims · $22K
Cranbury 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: Middlesex County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Cranbury Township
Disasters that paid out in Cranbury Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Cranbury Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida21 households applied for aid$16K aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy43 households applied for aid$11K aid approved$249K to Cranbury Township for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene38 households applied for aid$123K aid approved$15K to Cranbury Township for repairs14 flood claims paid for it, $616K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$20K to Cranbury Township for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$7K to Cranbury Township for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding8 households applied for aid$37K aid approved$42K to Cranbury Township for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Show all 7
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$3K to Cranbury Township for repairs
Middlesex County has had 22 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 Cranbury Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cranbury Township archive →Cranbury Township and its neighbors
Cranbury Township is 3rd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Brunswick Township | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 42 |
| Monroe Township | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 76 |
| Cranbury Township | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| East Windsor Township | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Plainsboro Township | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Princeton Meadows | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Twin Rivers | — | 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 Cranbury 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 Cranbury Township
Is Cranbury Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cranbury Township has higher expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #340 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and earthquakes (7%). 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 Cranbury Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 29 claims in Cranbury Township since 1978, $839K in all, or 21.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (14).
Is Cranbury 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 Middlesex County, 54% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Cranbury Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cranbury 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 Cranbury Township?
By FEMA money that reached Cranbury Township, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 43 households applied for aid, $11K approved, and $249K to Cranbury Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 14 paid, $616K.
Is Cranbury Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Cranbury Township’s rate for it is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cranbury Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cranbury 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.