Photo: Hisland7 · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Edgewater than in 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Edgewater gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #432 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 70 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 Edgewater’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Edgewater 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 Edgewater’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Edgewater, and Edgewater’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 5%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
D #432 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Edgewater’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, Edgewater has more expected damage per building than 92% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.8M a year in losses across Edgewater: $5.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Edgewater flood? Sometimes: 70 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Edgewater, from FEMA’s records: 8.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy37 claims · $5.4M
- Hurricane Ida9 claims · $216K
- The December Storm - nor’easter5 claims · $262K
Edgewater 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 Edgewater
Disasters that paid out in Edgewater itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Edgewater), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida108 households applied for aid$339K aid approved$1.2M to the Borough of Edgewater for repairs9 flood claims paid for it, $216K
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$38K to the Borough of Edgewater for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$65K to the Borough of Edgewater for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy423 households applied for aid$533K aid approved$928K to the Borough of Edgewater for repairs37 flood claims paid for it, $5.4M
- 2011Severe Storm$3K to the Borough of Edgewater for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene14 households applied for aid$34K aid approved$71K to the Borough of Edgewater for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $21K
Show all 10
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$24K to the Borough of Edgewater for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$521K to the Borough of Edgewater for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding3 households applied for aid$8K aid approved$29K to the Borough of Edgewater for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$8K to the Borough of Edgewater for repairs1 flood claim 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 Edgewater after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Edgewater archive →Edgewater and its neighbors
Edgewater is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lee | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| North Bergen Township | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 109 |
| Cliffside Park | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Edgewater | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 70 |
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 Edgewater 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Edgewater
Is Edgewater at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Edgewater has higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #432 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Edgewater flood?
Flood insurance has paid 70 claims in Edgewater since 1978, $7.0M in all, or 8.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (37).
Is Edgewater 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 Edgewater?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Edgewater’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 Edgewater?
By FEMA money that reached Edgewater, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 108 households applied for aid, $339K approved, and $1.2M to the Borough of Edgewater for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 37 paid, $5.4M.
Is Edgewater at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Edgewater’s rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Edgewater.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Edgewater’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.