Blackledge-Gair House · Photo: Beyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Cresskill as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cresskill gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #154 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 74 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 Cresskill 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 Cresskill’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Cresskill, and Cresskill’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
B #154 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Cresskill’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, Cresskill has less expected damage per building than 67% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.8M a year in losses across Cresskill: $2.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Cresskill flood? Sometimes: 74 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Cresskill, from FEMA’s records: 22.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida28 claims · $2.2M
- The April 2007 nor’easter12 claims · $129K
- Hurricane Floyd11 claims · $104K
Cresskill 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.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Cresskill
Disasters that paid out in Cresskill itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Cresskill), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida181 households applied for aid$747K aid approved$152K to the Borough of Cresskill for repairs28 flood claims paid for it, $2.2M
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$51K to the Borough of Cresskill for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy49 households applied for aid$145K to the Borough of Cresskill for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$151K to the Borough of Cresskill for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene29 households applied for aid$76K aid approved$23K to the Borough of Cresskill for repairs10 flood claims paid for it, $177K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$33K to the Borough of Cresskill for repairs
Show all 9
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding16 households applied for aid$28K aid approved$96K to the Borough of Cresskill for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding59 households applied for aid$75K aid approved$16K to the Borough of Cresskill for repairs13 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$439K to the Borough of Cresskill for repairs11 flood claims paid for it, $104K
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 Cresskill after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Cresskill archive →Cresskill and its neighbors
Cresskill is 4th of the 6 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 | — |
| Tenafly | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 47 |
| Dumont | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 91 |
| Cresskill | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 74 |
| Demarest | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Bergenfield | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 96 |
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 Cresskill 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 Cresskill
Is Cresskill at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Cresskill has lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #154 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Cresskill flood?
Flood insurance has paid 74 claims in Cresskill since 1979, $2.8M in all, or 22.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (28).
Is Cresskill 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 Cresskill?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Cresskill’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 Cresskill?
By FEMA money that reached Cresskill, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 181 households applied for aid, $747K approved, and $152K to the Borough of Cresskill for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 28 paid, $2.2M.
Is Cresskill at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Cresskill’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Cresskill.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Cresskill’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.