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VAN HOUTEN-HILLMAN HOUSE, ELMWOOD PARK, BERGEN COUNTY NJPhoto: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0
BHazard risk
Natural hazards in Elmwood Park · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Elmwood Park 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, Elmwood Park gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #162 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 80 claims here since 1978.

River and rain flooding 82%Earthquakes 10%Hurricanes 5%

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

less than 58%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#162 of 468 in New Jersey
Hazard risk
B#162 of 468
in New Jersey · lower than 58% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
82% of expected building damage
Flood claims
80
paid since 1978 · $2.2M
Flooded more than once
10
properties · 3 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
11
of 23 declared for Bergen County
By hazard

What Elmwood Park 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

82%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

10%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts

Hurricanes

5%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 9 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Strong wind Winter storms Hail Ice storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingWildfireAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Elmwood Park’s grade

River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Elmwood Park, and Elmwood Park’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 10% (higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Elmwood Park sits
Elmwood Park
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B #162 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Elmwood Park’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding82%Earthquakes10%Hurricanes5%Everything else3%

The typical New Jersey town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, Elmwood Park has less expected damage per building than 66% of New Jersey towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.6M a year in losses across Elmwood Park: $3.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Elmwood Park covers 4 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Elmwood Park flood? Sometimes: 80 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Elmwood Park, from FEMA’s records: 10.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 3 claims1979: 5 claims1980: 1 claim1981: 0 claims1982: 1 claim1983: 2 claims1984: 11 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 1 claim1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 15 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 8 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 4 claims2011: 17 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 1 claim2019: 1 claim2020: 0 claims2021: 7 claims2022: 2 claims2023: 1 claim2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims198419992011
19782026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Floyd14 claims · $301K
  • Hurricane Irene13 claims · $893K
  • The April 2007 nor’easter8 claims · $113K
80
paid claims since 1978
$2.2M
paid to owners
10
homes flooded more than once
$27K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (3)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Elmwood Park 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.
Disasters

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Elmwood Park

Disasters that paid out in Elmwood Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Elmwood Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida229 households applied for aid$501K aid approved$102K to the Borough of Elmwood Park for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $388K
  2. 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$43K to the Borough of Elmwood Park for repairs
  3. 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$42K to the Borough of Elmwood Park for repairs
  4. 2012Hurricane Sandy285 households applied for aid$24K aid approved$483K to the Borough of Elmwood Park for repairs
  5. 2011Severe Storm$105K to the Borough of Elmwood Park for repairs
  6. 2011Hurricane Irene206 households applied for aid$375K aid approved$92K to the Borough of Elmwood Park for repairs13 flood claims paid for it, $893K
Show all 11
  1. 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$34K to the Borough of Elmwood Park for repairs
  2. 2010Severe Storms and Flooding14 households applied for aid$4K aid approved$20K to the Borough of Elmwood Park for repairs
  3. 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding93 households applied for aid$162K aid approved$94K to the Borough of Elmwood Park for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
  4. 2005Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
  5. 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$9K to the Borough of Elmwood Park for repairs14 flood claims paid for it, $301K
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Elmwood ParkBergen County only

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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Elmwood Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Elmwood Park archive →
Next door

Elmwood Park and its neighbors

Elmwood Park has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Paterson: hazard risk C+Fair Lawn: hazard risk B−Garfield: hazard risk B−PatersonFair LawnGarfieldElmwood Park
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
Elmwood ParkBless damage than 58%river and rain flooding80
Fair LawnB−less damage than 52%river and rain flooding291
GarfieldB−more damage than 54%river and rain flooding307
PatersonC+more damage than 63%river and rain flooding1,078

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Elmwood Park faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Elmwood Park

Is Elmwood Park at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elmwood Park has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #162 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and earthquakes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Elmwood Park flood?

Flood insurance has paid 80 claims in Elmwood Park since 1978, $2.2M in all, or 10.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 10 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (14).

Is Elmwood Park 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 Elmwood Park?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Elmwood Park’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 Elmwood Park?

By FEMA money that reached Elmwood Park, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 229 households applied for aid, $501K approved, and $102K to the Borough of Elmwood Park for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 14 paid, $301K.

Is Elmwood Park at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Elmwood Park’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Elmwood Park.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Elmwood Park’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.