Photo: Smallbones · Public domainLess hazard damage per building is expected in Fairfield Township than in 68% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fairfield Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #111 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (32%), then coastal flooding (31%). Flood insurance has paid 1,845 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 Fairfield Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Fairfield Township 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
Coastal 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 Fairfield Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 32% of the building damage FEMA expects in Fairfield Township, and Fairfield Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 96% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 31%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #111 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Fairfield Township’s residents live in 2 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, Fairfield Township has less expected damage per building than 76% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.1M a year in losses across Fairfield Township: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Fairfield Township flood? Yes: 1,845 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Fairfield Township, from FEMA’s records: 1,053.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 100% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene628 claims · $43.4M
- The April 2007 nor’easter230 claims · $6.6M
- The March 2010 nor’easter203 claims · $5.3M
Fairfield Township is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Cumberland County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Fairfield Township
Disasters that paid out in Fairfield Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Fairfield Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$220K to Fairfield Township for repairs
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds$12K to Fairfield Township for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$12K to Fairfield Township for repairs628 flood claims paid for it, $43.4M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$7K to Fairfield Township for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$9K to Fairfield Township for repairs
- 2009Snowstorm$9K to Fairfield Township for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Cumberland County has had 23 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter 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 Fairfield Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Fairfield Township archive →Fairfield Township and its neighbors
Fairfield Township is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Deerfield Township | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Hopewell Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Deerfield Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Bridgeton | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Fairfield Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 1,845 |
| Lawrence Township | C−more damage than 76% | coastal flooding | 211 |
| Greenwich Township | — | 731 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Gouldtown | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Fairton | — | 930 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Cedarville | — | 661 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Fairfield Township 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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.
- Fairfield Township residents get 20% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Fairfield Township
Is Fairfield Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fairfield Township has lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #111 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (32%) and coastal flooding (31%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Fairfield Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,845 claims in Fairfield Township since 1978, $70.5M in all, or 1,053.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 100% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 285 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (628).
Is Fairfield Township 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 Cumberland County, 27% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Fairfield Township?
Fairfield Township is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6), which takes 20% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Fairfield Township?
By FEMA money that reached Fairfield Township, Hurricane Sandy (2012): $220K to Fairfield Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 628 paid, $43.4M.
Is Fairfield Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (32%), and Fairfield Township’s rate for it is lower than 96% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Fairfield Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Fairfield Township’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.