Photo: Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Englewood Cliffs than in 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Englewood Cliffs gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #12 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%), then hurricanes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1980.
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 Englewood Cliffs 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
Hurricanes
Earthquakes
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 Englewood Cliffs’ grade
River and rain flooding is 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Englewood Cliffs, and Englewood Cliffs’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 83% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 4%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
A #12 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Englewood Cliffs’ residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New Jersey town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, Englewood Cliffs has less expected damage per building than 98% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Englewood Cliffs: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Englewood Cliffs flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Englewood Cliffs, from FEMA’s records: 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 70% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Englewood Cliffs 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.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Englewood Cliffs
Disasters that paid out in Englewood Cliffs itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Englewood Cliffs), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida145 households applied for aid$440K aid approved
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$38K to the Borough of Englewood Cliffs for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$26K to the Borough of Englewood Cliffs for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy36 households applied for aid$10K aid approved$165K to the Borough of Englewood Cliffs for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$115K to the Borough of Englewood Cliffs for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene8 households applied for aid$19K aid approved$33K to the Borough of Englewood Cliffs for repairs
Show all 8
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding14 households applied for aid$8K aid approved
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding22 households applied for aid$36K aid approved
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 Englewood Cliffs after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Englewood Cliffs archive →Englewood Cliffs and its neighbors
Englewood Cliffs has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
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 Englewood Cliffs 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.
- 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Englewood Cliffs
Is Englewood Cliffs at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Englewood Cliffs has lower expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #12 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%) and hurricanes (12%). 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 Englewood Cliffs flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Englewood Cliffs since 1980, $32K in all, or 1.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 70% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Englewood Cliffs 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 Englewood Cliffs?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Englewood Cliffs’ 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 Englewood Cliffs?
By FEMA money that reached Englewood Cliffs, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 145 households applied for aid, $440K approved.
Is Englewood Cliffs at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Englewood Cliffs’ rate for it is lower than 83% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Englewood Cliffs.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Englewood Cliffs’ 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.