Photo: Zeete · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Denville Township’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Denville Township gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #292 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 778 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 stands out about Denville Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Denville 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
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 Denville Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Denville Township, and Denville Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
C #292 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Denville Township’s residents live in 3 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, Denville Township has more expected damage per building than 62% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.0M a year in losses across Denville Township: $6.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Denville Township flood? Yes: 778 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Denville Township, from FEMA’s records: 118.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene239 claims · $13.7M
- Hurricane Floyd96 claims · $1.2M
- The March 2010 nor’easter61 claims · $719K
Denville Township is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Morris County.14 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Denville Township
Disasters that paid out in Denville Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Denville Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida56 households applied for aid$55K aid approved$50K to Denville Township for repairs
- 2021Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$108K to Denville Township for repairs
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$131K to Denville Township for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$28K to Denville Township for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$82K to Denville Township for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy168 households applied for aid$13K aid approved$179K to Denville Township for repairs
Show all 14
- 2011Severe Storm$122K to Denville Township for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene486 households applied for aid$1.7M aid approved$655K to Denville Township for repairs239 flood claims paid for it, $13.7M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$81K to Denville Township for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding23 households applied for aid$8K aid approved$19K to Denville Township for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding24 households applied for aid$11K aid approved32 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding5 households applied for aid$6K aid approved35 flood claims paid that year
- 2000Severe Storms, Flooding and Mudslides$5K to Denville Township for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$41K to Denville Township for repairs96 flood claims paid for it, $1.2M
Morris County has had 25 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 Denville Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Denville Township archive →Denville Township and its neighbors
Denville Township is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockaway Township | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 53 |
| Morris Township | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 58 |
| Denville Township | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 778 |
| Parsippany-Troy Hills Township | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 542 |
| Rockaway | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 73 |
| Boonton Township | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 47 |
| White Meadow Lake | — | 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 Denville 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.
- 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.
- Denville Township residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Denville Township
Is Denville Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Denville Township has higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #292 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Denville Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 778 claims in Denville Township since 1978, $19.1M in all, or 118.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 94 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (239).
Is Denville 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 Morris County, 1.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Denville Township?
Denville Township is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Denville Township?
By FEMA money that reached Denville Township, Hurricane Irene (2011): 486 households applied for aid, $1.7M approved, and $655K to Denville Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 239 paid, $13.7M.
Is Denville Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Denville Township’s rate for it is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Denville Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Denville 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.