Photo: Wangyeah, babyknight, Roman Fuchs, Jim.henderson · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, East Rutherford faces more hazard damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, East Rutherford gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #412 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%), then coastal flooding (17%). Flood insurance has paid 236 claims here since 1980.
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 East Rutherford’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What East Rutherford 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
Coastal 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 East Rutherford’s grade
River and rain flooding is 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in East Rutherford, and East Rutherford’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 17%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D #412 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
East Rutherford’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, East Rutherford has more expected damage per building than 88% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.2M a year in losses across East Rutherford: $5.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does East Rutherford flood? Yes: 236 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in East Rutherford, from FEMA’s records: 53.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene87 claims · $2.4M
- Hurricane Sandy52 claims · $3.3M
- Hurricane Ida37 claims · $1.7M
East Rutherford 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.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to East Rutherford
Disasters that paid out in East Rutherford itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of East Rutherford), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida185 households applied for aid$539K aid approved$100K to the Borough of East Rutherford for repairs37 flood claims paid for it, $1.7M
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$34K to the Borough of East Rutherford for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$50K to the Borough of East Rutherford for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy132 households applied for aid$87K aid approved$383K to the Borough of East Rutherford for repairs52 flood claims paid for it, $3.3M
- 2011Severe Storm$10K to the Borough of East Rutherford for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene197 households applied for aid$407K aid approved$93K to the Borough of East Rutherford for repairs87 flood claims paid for it, $2.4M
Show all 10
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$32K to the Borough of East Rutherford for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$8K to the Borough of East Rutherford for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding33 households applied for aid$49K aid approved$73K to the Borough of East Rutherford for repairs27 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$27K to the Borough of East Rutherford for repairs26 flood claims paid for it, $288K
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 East Rutherford after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the East Rutherford archive →East Rutherford and its neighbors
East Rutherford 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secaucus | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 62 |
| Rutherford | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 237 |
| East Rutherford | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 236 |
| Wallington | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 638 |
| Carlstadt | D−more damage than 97% | coastal flooding | 74 |
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 East Rutherford 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 East Rutherford
Is East Rutherford at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, East Rutherford has higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #412 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%) and coastal flooding (17%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does East Rutherford flood?
Flood insurance has paid 236 claims in East Rutherford since 1980, $8.3M in all, or 53.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 49 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (87).
Is East Rutherford 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 East Rutherford?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for East Rutherford’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 East Rutherford?
By FEMA money that reached East Rutherford, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 185 households applied for aid, $539K approved, and $100K to the Borough of East Rutherford for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 87 paid, $2.4M.
Is East Rutherford at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and East Rutherford’s rate for it is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in East Rutherford.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where East Rutherford’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.