Photo: Rickyrab at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Fair Lawn as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fair Lawn gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #184 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). Flood insurance has paid 291 claims here since 1978.
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 Fair Lawn’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Fair Lawn 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
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 Fair Lawn’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Fair Lawn, and Fair Lawn’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 9% (higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #184 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Fair Lawn’s residents live in 8 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, Fair Lawn has less expected damage per building than 61% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.9M a year in losses across Fair Lawn: $7.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Fair Lawn flood? Yes: 291 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Fair Lawn, from FEMA’s records: 23.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene119 claims · $3.1M
- Hurricane Floyd48 claims · $1.2M
- The April 2007 nor’easter39 claims · $444K
Fair Lawn 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.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Fair Lawn
Disasters that paid out in Fair Lawn itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Fair Lawn), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida237 households applied for aid$489K aid approved$55K to the Borough of Fair Lawn for repairs20 flood claims paid for it, $752K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$159K to the Borough of Fair Lawn for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$89K to the Borough of Fair Lawn for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$112K to the Borough of Fair Lawn for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy264 households applied for aid$24K aid approved$606K to the Borough of Fair Lawn for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$150K to the Borough of Fair Lawn for repairs
Show all 12
- 2011Hurricane Irene345 households applied for aid$631K aid approved$336K to the Borough of Fair Lawn for repairs119 flood claims paid for it, $3.1M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$70K to the Borough of Fair Lawn for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding20 households applied for aid$16K aid approved$101K to the Borough of Fair Lawn for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding133 households applied for aid$108K aid approved$85K to the Borough of Fair Lawn for repairs40 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$443 aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$384K to the Borough of Fair Lawn for repairs48 flood claims paid for it, $1.2M
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 Fair Lawn after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Fair Lawn archive →Fair Lawn and its neighbors
Fair Lawn is 2nd of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elmwood Park | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 80 |
| Fair Lawn | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 291 |
| Paramus | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 140 |
| Paterson | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 1,078 |
| Saddle Brook Township | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 404 |
| Glen Rock | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Hawthorne | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 241 |
| Rochelle Park Township | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 838 |
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 Fair Lawn 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.
- 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 Fair Lawn
Is Fair Lawn at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fair Lawn has lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #184 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and earthquakes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Fair Lawn flood?
Flood insurance has paid 291 claims in Fair Lawn since 1978, $6.1M in all, or 23.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 32 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (119).
Is Fair Lawn 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 Fair Lawn?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Fair Lawn’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 Fair Lawn?
By FEMA money that reached Fair Lawn, Hurricane Irene (2011): 345 households applied for aid, $631K approved, and $336K to the Borough of Fair Lawn for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 119 paid, $3.1M.
Is Fair Lawn at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Fair Lawn’s rate for it is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Fair Lawn.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Fair Lawn’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.