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Emerson StationPhoto: Mitchazenia · CC BY-SA 3.0
A−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Emerson · FEMA

FEMA puts Emerson’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Emerson gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #55 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%), then earthquakes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 24 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 78%Earthquakes 10%Hurricanes 8%

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 82%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#55 of 468 in New Jersey
Hazard risk
A−#55 of 468
in New Jersey · lower than 82% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
78% of expected building damage
Flood claims
24
paid since 1979 · $378K
Flooded more than once
3
properties · 1 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
11
of 23 declared for Bergen County

What stands out about Emerson’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Lower expected damage than 82% of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.Remembers 19995 flood claims were paid for 1999 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Emerson 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

78%of expected building damage
Below average · lower than 64% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

10%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts

Hurricanes

8%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 7 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Strong wind Winter storms Hail Wildfire Ice storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Emerson’s grade

River and rain flooding is 78% of the building damage FEMA expects in Emerson, and Emerson’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 64% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 10% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Emerson sits
Emerson
Least damageMiddleMost damage

A− #55 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).

All of Emerson’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding78%Earthquakes10%Hurricanes8%Everything else4%

The typical New Jersey town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, Emerson has less expected damage per building than 88% of New Jersey towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Emerson: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Shared tract.All of Emerson’s 7,290 residents (2020 census) live in one census tract. FEMA publishes its model by tract, so the rate and the hazard mix are the tract’s. The flood claims below are the town’s own.
A shared figure. The grade describes the whole tract, not each street in it, and FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Emerson flood? Sometimes: 24 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Emerson, from FEMA’s records: 9.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 3 claims1980: 1 claim1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 1 claim1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 1 claim1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 1 claim1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 5 claims2000: 1 claim2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 1 claim2006: 0 claims2007: 2 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 1 claim2010: 1 claim2011: 2 claims2012: 1 claim2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 1 claim2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 2 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims197919992007
19792026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Floyd4 claims · $48K
  • Hurricane Ida2 claims · $96K
  • Hurricane Irene2 claims · $66K
24
paid claims since 1979
$378K
paid to owners
3
homes flooded more than once
$16K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Emerson 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 Emerson

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

  1. 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida64 households applied for aid$221K aid approved$42K to the Borough of Emerson for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $96K
  2. 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$69K to the Borough of Emerson for repairs
  3. 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$80K to the Borough of Emerson for repairs
  4. 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$29K to the Borough of Emerson for repairs
  5. 2012Hurricane Sandy22 households applied for aid$5K aid approved$182K to the Borough of Emerson for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  6. 2011Severe Storm$100K to the Borough of Emerson for repairs
Show all 11
  1. 2011Hurricane Irene15 households applied for aid$18K aid approved$27K to the Borough of Emerson for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $66K
  2. 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$15K to the Borough of Emerson for repairs
  3. 2010Severe Storms and Flooding8 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$69K to the Borough of Emerson for repairs
  4. 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding21 households applied for aid$9K aid approved$9K to the Borough of Emerson for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
  5. 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$15K to the Borough of Emerson for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $48K
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in EmersonBergen 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 Emerson after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Emerson archive →
Next door

Emerson and its neighbors

Emerson is 2nd of the 9 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Haworth: hazard risk AWestwood: hazard risk CRiver Vale Township: hazard risk C+Oradell: hazard risk BCloster: hazard risk B+Harrington Park: hazard risk B−Paramus: hazard risk B−Washington Township: hazard risk BHaworthWestwoodRiver Vale TownshipOradellClosterHarrington ParkParamusWashington TownshipEmerson
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
HaworthAless damage than 89%river and rain flooding9
EmersonA−less damage than 82%river and rain flooding24
ClosterB+less damage than 68%river and rain flooding38
OradellBless damage than 59%river and rain flooding28
Washington TownshipBless damage than 58%river and rain flooding39
ParamusB−more damage than 51%river and rain flooding140
Harrington ParkB−more damage than 52%river and rain flooding19
River Vale TownshipC+more damage than 58%river and rain flooding112
WestwoodCmore damage than 70%river and rain flooding629

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 Emerson 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 Emerson

Is Emerson at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Emerson has lower expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #55 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (78%) and earthquakes (10%). 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 Emerson flood?

Flood insurance has paid 24 claims in Emerson since 1979, $378K in all, or 9.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (4).

Is Emerson 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 Emerson?

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

By FEMA money that reached Emerson, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 64 households applied for aid, $221K approved, and $42K to the Borough of Emerson for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 4 paid, $48K.

Is Emerson at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (78%), and Emerson’s rate for it is lower than 64% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Emerson.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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