Photo: RyeCityRoller · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Fort Lee than in 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fort Lee gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, #46 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%). Flood insurance has paid 15 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 Fort Lee 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
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 Fort Lee’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Fort Lee, and Fort Lee’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 66% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 9% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #46 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Fort Lee’s residents live in 10 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, Fort Lee has less expected damage per building than 90% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.8M a year in losses across Fort Lee: $4.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Fort Lee flood? Sometimes: 15 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Fort Lee, from FEMA’s records: 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida4 claims · $111K
- Hurricane Irene3 claims · $26K
Fort Lee 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 Fort Lee
Disasters that paid out in Fort Lee itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Fort Lee), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Winter Storm$5K to the Borough of Fort Lee for repairs
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida408 households applied for aid$1.5M aid approved$103K to the Borough of Fort Lee for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $111K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$178K to the Borough of Fort Lee for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$80K to the Borough of Fort Lee for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$101K to the Borough of Fort Lee for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy335 households applied for aid$34K aid approved$1.2M to the Borough of Fort Lee for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $11K
Show all 12
- 2011Severe Storm$66K to the Borough of Fort Lee for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene41 households applied for aid$106K aid approved$127K to the Borough of Fort Lee for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $26K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$73K to the Borough of Fort Lee for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$6K aid approved$71K to the Borough of Fort Lee for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding21 households applied for aid$20K aid approved
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$32K to the Borough of Fort Lee for repairs
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 Fort Lee after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Fort Lee archive →Fort Lee and its neighbors
Fort Lee is 2nd 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 |
| Leonia | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Palisades Park | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Englewood | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 338 |
| Edgewater | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 70 |
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 Fort Lee 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.
- 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 Fort Lee
Is Fort Lee at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fort Lee has lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #46 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and hurricanes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Fort Lee flood?
Flood insurance has paid 15 claims in Fort Lee since 1978, $600K in all, or 0.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (4).
Is Fort Lee 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 Fort Lee?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Fort Lee’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 Fort Lee?
By FEMA money that reached Fort Lee, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 408 households applied for aid, $1.5M approved, and $103K to the Borough of Fort Lee for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 4 paid, $111K.
Is Fort Lee at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Fort Lee’s rate for it is lower than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Fort Lee.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Fort Lee’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.