Photo: Dinker022089 · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Englewood than in 69% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Englewood gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns, #314 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 338 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 Englewood’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Englewood 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
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’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Englewood, and Englewood’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 5% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
C #314 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Englewood’s residents live in 6 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, Englewood has more expected damage per building than 67% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.9M a year in losses across Englewood: $8.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Englewood flood? Yes: 338 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Englewood, from FEMA’s records: 28.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida104 claims · $8.1M
- The April 2007 nor’easter53 claims · $1.3M
- Hurricane Irene50 claims · $1.4M
Englewood 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.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Englewood
Disasters that paid out in Englewood itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Englewood), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida968 households applied for aid$3.6M aid approved$4.9M to the City of Englewood for repairs104 flood claims paid for it, $8.1M
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$555K to the City of Englewood for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$115K to the City of Englewood for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy587 households applied for aid$56K aid approved$629K to the City of Englewood for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storm$357K to the City of Englewood for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene211 households applied for aid$333K aid approved$64K to the City of Englewood for repairs50 flood claims paid for it, $1.4M
Show all 11
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$83K to the City of Englewood for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding40 households applied for aid$27K aid approved$156K to the City of Englewood for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding126 households applied for aid$133K aid approved$226K to the City of Englewood for repairs56 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$990 aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$119K to the City of Englewood for repairs21 flood claims paid for it, $243K
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 after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Englewood archive →Englewood and its neighbors
Englewood is 6th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Englewood Cliffs | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Fort Lee | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Tenafly | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 47 |
| Leonia | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Teaneck Township | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 84 |
| Englewood | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 338 |
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 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.
- 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
Is Englewood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Englewood has higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #314 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and hurricanes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Englewood flood?
Flood insurance has paid 338 claims in Englewood since 1979, $14.7M in all, or 28.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 52 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (104).
Is Englewood 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?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Englewood’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 Englewood?
By FEMA money that reached Englewood, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 968 households applied for aid, $3.6M approved, and $4.9M to the City of Englewood for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 104 paid, $8.1M.
Is Englewood at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Englewood’s rate for it is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Englewood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Englewood’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.