Photo: KForce at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Edison Township faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Edison Township gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #206 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%). Flood insurance has paid 154 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 Edison Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Edison 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
Earthquakes
Strong wind
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 Edison Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 73% of the building damage FEMA expects in Edison Township, and Edison Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 6%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #206 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Edison Township’s residents live in 24 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, Edison Township has less expected damage per building than 56% of New Jersey towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Edison Township has lower expected damage per building than 59% (#164 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $34.9M, is the 325th largest of those 400.
Does Edison Township flood? Yes: 154 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Edison Township, from FEMA’s records: 3.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 54% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida40 claims · $1.6M
- Hurricane Sandy24 claims · $7.2M
- Hurricane Irene22 claims · $812K
Edison Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Middlesex County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Edison Township
Disasters that paid out in Edison Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Edison Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida1,324 households applied for aid$4.4M aid approved$5.9M to Edison Township for repairs40 flood claims paid for it, $1.6M
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$224K to Edison Township for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy1,383 households applied for aid$259K aid approved$1.2M to Edison Township for repairs24 flood claims paid for it, $7.2M
- 2011Severe Storm$123K to Edison Township for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene722 households applied for aid$2.0M aid approved$254K to Edison Township for repairs22 flood claims paid for it, $812K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$130K to Edison Township for repairs
Show all 9
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding76 households applied for aid$98K aid approved$263K to Edison Township for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding114 households applied for aid$147K aid approved$195K to Edison Township for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$108K to Edison Township for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $115K
Middlesex County has had 22 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 Edison Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Edison Township archive →Edison Township and its neighbors
Edison Township is 3rd of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodbridge Township | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 597 |
| Sayreville | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 324 |
| Edison Township | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 154 |
| East Brunswick Township | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 101 |
| South Plainfield | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 353 |
| Highland Park | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 57 |
| Piscataway Township | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 232 |
| New Brunswick | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 82 |
| Fords | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Iselin | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Rutgers University-Livingston Campus | — | 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 Edison 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- 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 Edison Township
Is Edison Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Edison Township has higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #206 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%) and earthquakes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Edison Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 154 claims in Edison Township since 1979, $11.8M in all, or 3.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 54% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 19 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (40).
Is Edison 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 Middlesex County, 54% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Edison Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Edison Township’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 Edison Township?
By FEMA money that reached Edison Township, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 1,324 households applied for aid, $4.4M approved, and $5.9M to Edison Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 40 paid, $1.6M.
Is Edison Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (73%), and Edison Township’s rate for it is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Edison Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Edison 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.