Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Dumont than in 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dumont gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #136 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 91 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 Dumont’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Dumont 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 Dumont’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Dumont, and Dumont’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
B #136 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Dumont’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, Dumont has less expected damage per building than 71% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.3M a year in losses across Dumont: $2.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Dumont flood? Sometimes: 91 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Dumont, 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 Ida27 claims · $666K
- Hurricane Floyd17 claims · $74K
- The April 2007 nor’easter15 claims · $106K
Dumont is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Bergen County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Dumont
Disasters that paid out in Dumont itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Dumont), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida197 households applied for aid$607K aid approved$96K to the Borough of Dumont for repairs27 flood claims paid for it, $666K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$149K to the Borough of Dumont for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$25K to the Borough of Dumont for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$36K to the Borough of Dumont for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy138 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$438K to the Borough of Dumont for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$146K to the Borough of Dumont for repairs
Show all 10
- 2011Hurricane Irene116 households applied for aid$203K aid approved$121K to the Borough of Dumont for repairs12 flood claims paid for it, $75K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$38K to the Borough of Dumont for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding81 households applied for aid$30K aid approved$130K to the Borough of Dumont for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding152 households applied for aid$147K aid approved$49K to the Borough of Dumont for repairs18 flood claims paid that year
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 Dumont after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Dumont archive →Dumont and its neighbors
Dumont is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haworth | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Dumont | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 91 |
| Cresskill | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 74 |
| Bergenfield | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 96 |
| New Milford | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 753 |
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 Dumont 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.
- Dumont residents get 05% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Dumont
Is Dumont at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Dumont has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #136 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 Dumont flood?
Flood insurance has paid 91 claims in Dumont since 1979, $994K in all, or 13.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 9 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (27).
Is Dumont 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 Dumont?
Dumont is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9), which takes 05% 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 Dumont?
By FEMA money that reached Dumont, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 197 households applied for aid, $607K approved, and $96K to the Borough of Dumont for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 27 paid, $666K.
Is Dumont at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Dumont’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Dumont.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Dumont’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.