Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Demarest as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Demarest gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #178 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 25 claims here since 1990.
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 Demarest 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 Demarest’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Demarest, and Demarest’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #178 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Demarest’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, Demarest has less expected damage per building than 62% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Demarest: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Demarest flood? Sometimes: 25 flood claims since 1990
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Demarest, from FEMA’s records: 14.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida5 claims · $180K
- Hurricane Floyd4 claims · $13K
- Hurricane Irene4 claims · $29K
Demarest 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 Demarest
Disasters that paid out in Demarest itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Demarest), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida73 households applied for aid$229K aid approved$882K to the Borough of Demarest for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $180K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$34K to the Borough of Demarest for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$19K to the Borough of Demarest for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$20K to the Borough of Demarest for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy35 households applied for aid$11K aid approved$242K to the Borough of Demarest for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$39K to the Borough of Demarest for repairs
Show all 11
- 2011Hurricane Irene9 households applied for aid$14K aid approved$31K to the Borough of Demarest for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $29K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$19K to the Borough of Demarest for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$1K aid approved$76K to the Borough of Demarest for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding16 households applied for aid$20K aid approved$12K to the Borough of Demarest for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$23K to the Borough of Demarest for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $13K
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 Demarest after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Demarest archive →Demarest and its neighbors
Demarest is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Haworth | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Closter | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
| Cresskill | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 74 |
| Demarest | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
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 Demarest 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 Demarest
Is Demarest at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Demarest has lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #178 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) and hurricanes (6%). 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 Demarest flood?
Flood insurance has paid 25 claims in Demarest since 1990, $320K in all, or 14.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (5).
Is Demarest 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 Demarest?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Demarest’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 Demarest?
By FEMA money that reached Demarest, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 73 households applied for aid, $229K approved, and $882K to the Borough of Demarest for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 5 paid, $180K.
Is Demarest at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Demarest’s rate for it is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Demarest.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Demarest’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.