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EF POPhoto: NAB1997 · CC BY-SA 4.0
B+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Essex Fells · FEMA

FEMA puts Essex Fells’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 72% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Essex Fells gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 15 claims here since 1978.

River and rain flooding 86%Hurricanes 6%Earthquakes 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 72%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade
Hazard risk
B+
in New Jersey · lower than 72% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
86% of expected building damage
Flood claims
15
paid since 1978 · $293K
Flooded more than once
2
properties
Disasters paid out here
10
of 24 declared for Essex County
By hazard

What Essex Fells 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

86%of expected building damage
About average · higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

6%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 10 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Tornadoes Hail Strong wind Winter storms Ice storms Wildfire 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 Essex Fells’ grade

River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Essex Fells, and Essex Fells’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Essex Fells sits
Essex Fells
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B+ lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns (21,298).

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

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding86%Hurricanes6%Earthquakes5%Everything else4%

In dollars, FEMA expects about $860K a year in losses across Essex Fells: $753K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Shared tract.All of Essex Fells’ 2,244 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 Essex Fells flood? Sometimes: 15 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Essex Fells, from FEMA’s records: 18.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 1 claim1979: 1 claim1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 1 claim1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 1 claim1999: 2 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 1 claim2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 2 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 4 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 2 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims199920112021
19782026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Ida4 claims · $146K
  • Hurricane Irene2 claims · $25K
  • Hurricane Floyd2 claims · $64K
15
paid claims since 1978
$293K
paid to owners
2
homes flooded more than once
$20K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Essex Fells isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Essex County.
Disasters

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Essex Fells

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

  1. 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida26 households applied for aid$27K aid approved$38K to the Borough of Essex Fells for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $146K
  2. 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$37K to the Borough of Essex Fells for repairs
  3. 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$111K to the Borough of Essex Fells for repairs
  4. 2012Hurricane Sandy18 households applied for aid$10K aid approved$264K to the Borough of Essex Fells for repairs
  5. 2011Severe Storm$145K to the Borough of Essex Fells for repairs
  6. 2011Hurricane Irene5 households applied for aid$12K aid approved$30K to the Borough of Essex Fells for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $25K
Show all 10
  1. 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$8K to the Borough of Essex Fells for repairs
  2. 2010Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
  3. 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$8K to the Borough of Essex Fells for repairs
  4. 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$10K to the Borough of Essex Fells for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $64K
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Essex FellsEssex County only

Essex County has had 24 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 Essex Fells after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Essex Fells archive →
Next door

Essex Fells and its neighbors

Essex Fells is 2nd of the 6 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Roseland: hazard risk B−Caldwell: hazard risk A−West Caldwell Township: hazard risk B+West Orange Township: hazard risk BVerona Township: hazard risk C+RoselandCaldwellWest Caldwell TownshipWest Orange TownshipVerona TownshipEssex Fells
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
CaldwellA−less damage than 83%river and rain flooding2
Essex FellsB+less damage than 72%river and rain flooding15
West Caldwell TownshipB+less damage than 65%river and rain flooding44
West Orange TownshipBless damage than 60%river and rain flooding185
RoselandB−more damage than 50%river and rain flooding24
Verona TownshipC+more damage than 59%river and rain flooding59

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 Essex Fells 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 ↗
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 Essex Fells

Is Essex Fells at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Essex Fells has lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (6%). 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 Essex Fells flood?

Flood insurance has paid 15 claims in Essex Fells since 1978, $293K in all, or 18.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (4).

Is Essex Fells 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 Essex County, 50% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.9% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Essex Fells?

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

By FEMA money that reached Essex Fells, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 18 households applied for aid, $10K approved, and $264K to the Borough of Essex Fells for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 4 paid, $146K.

Is Essex Fells at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Essex Fells’ rate for it is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Essex Fells.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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