Sarah and Samuel Nicholson House · Photo: Smallbones · Public domainFEMA puts Elsinboro Township’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from coastal flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elsinboro Township gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is coastal flooding (70%), then river and rain flooding (22%). Flood insurance has paid 32 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 Elsinboro Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Elsinboro Township faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Coastal flooding
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 Elsinboro Township’s grade
Coastal flooding is 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Elsinboro Township, and Elsinboro Township’s rate of coastal flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 3%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Elsinboro Township’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Elsinboro Township: $969K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Elsinboro Township flood? Sometimes: 32 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Elsinboro Township, from FEMA’s records: 73.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Gloria6 claims · $10K
- Hurricane Floyd4 claims · $27K
- Hurricane Sandy3 claims · $15K
Elsinboro 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: Salem County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Elsinboro Township
Disasters that paid out in Elsinboro Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Elsinboro Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds$4K to Elsinboro Township for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Hurricane Irene$4K to Elsinboro Township for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $8K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$4K to Elsinboro Township for repairs
- 2009Snowstorm$4K to Elsinboro Township for repairs
Salem County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter 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 Elsinboro Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Elsinboro Township archive →Elsinboro Township and its neighbors
Elsinboro Township is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quinton Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Lower Alloways Creek Township | Dmore damage than 92% | coastal flooding | 4 |
| Pennsville Township | Dmore damage than 92% | coastal flooding | 167 |
| Salem | Dmore damage than 95% | coastal flooding | 18 |
| Elsinboro Township | Dmore damage than 95% | coastal flooding | 32 |
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 Elsinboro 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.
- 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.
- 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 Elsinboro Township
Is Elsinboro Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elsinboro Township has higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is coastal flooding (70%) and river and rain flooding (22%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Elsinboro Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 32 claims in Elsinboro Township since 1979, $152K in all, or 73.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Gloria (6).
Is Elsinboro 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 Salem County, 39% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 7.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Elsinboro Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Elsinboro 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 Elsinboro Township?
By FEMA money that reached Elsinboro Township, Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds (2012): $4K to Elsinboro Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Gloria: 6 paid, $10K.
Is Elsinboro Township at risk from coastal flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Elsinboro Township’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Elsinboro Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Elsinboro 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.