Photo: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD · CC BY-SA 3.0Storms, floods and disasters in Far Hills
Far Hills isn’t graded for hazard risk: Far Hills has 948 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 14 claims here since 1979.
What Far Hills 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
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.
Does Far Hills flood? Sometimes: 14 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Far Hills, from FEMA’s records.
- Hurricane Ida4 claims · $115K
- Hurricane Irene2 claims · $39K
- Hurricane Floyd1 claim · $44K
Far Hills isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Somerset County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Far Hills
Disasters that paid out in Far Hills itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Far Hills), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida31 households applied for aid$42K aid approved4 flood claims paid for it, $115K
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$7K to the Borough of Far Hills for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy40 households applied for aid$10K aid approved$36K to the Borough of Far Hills for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene15 households applied for aid$9K aid approved$7K to the Borough of Far Hills for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $39K
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$12K to the Borough of Far Hills for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding1 households applied for aid$414 aid approved
Show all 7
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$8K to the Borough of Far Hills for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $44K
Somerset County has had 22 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 Far Hills after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Far Hills archive →Far Hills and its neighbors
How expected damage per building compares across the town line. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bernardsville | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Bernards Township | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 69 |
| Bedminster Township | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 37 |
| Peapack and Gladstone | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| The Hills | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Far Hills 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.
- 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 Far Hills
Does Far Hills flood?
Flood insurance has paid 14 claims in Far Hills since 1979, $269K in all. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (4).
Is Far Hills 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 Somerset County, 53% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Far Hills?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Far Hills’ 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 Far Hills?
By FEMA money that reached Far Hills, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 40 households applied for aid, $10K approved, and $36K to the Borough of Far Hills for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 4 paid, $115K.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Far Hills.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Far Hills’ 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.