Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0On FEMA’s figures, Frenchtown faces more hazard damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Frenchtown gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 92 claims here since 1984.
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 Frenchtown 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
Strong wind
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 Frenchtown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Frenchtown, and Frenchtown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 5%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
C− higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Frenchtown’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Frenchtown: $1.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Frenchtown flood? Sometimes: 92 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Frenchtown, from FEMA’s records: 120.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida4 claims · $138K
- The Torrential rain4 claims · $64K
- The April 2007 nor’easter1 claim · $8K
Frenchtown isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hunterdon County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Frenchtown
Disasters that paid out in Frenchtown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Frenchtown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida57 households applied for aid$170K aid approved$46K to the Borough of Frenchtown for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $138K
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$42K to the Borough of Frenchtown for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy36 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$162K to the Borough of Frenchtown for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$8K to the Borough of Frenchtown for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$16K to the Borough of Frenchtown for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene37 households applied for aid$82K aid approved$61K to the Borough of Frenchtown for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $16K
Show all 11
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$14K to the Borough of Frenchtown for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding19 households applied for aid$12K aid approved$57K to the Borough of Frenchtown for repairs30 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding24 households applied for aid$40K aid approved28 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding13 households applied for aid$35K aid approved$36K to the Borough of Frenchtown for repairs17 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$44K to the Borough of Frenchtown for repairs
Hunterdon County has had 18 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 Frenchtown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Frenchtown archive →Frenchtown and its neighbors
Frenchtown is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tinicum Township | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 309 |
| Alexandria Township | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Kingwood Township | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 136 |
| Frenchtown | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 92 |
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 Frenchtown 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.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- 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 Frenchtown
Is Frenchtown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Frenchtown has higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and strong wind (5%). 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 Frenchtown flood?
Flood insurance has paid 92 claims in Frenchtown since 1984, $2.3M in all, or 120.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 24 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (4).
Is Frenchtown 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 Hunterdon County, 66% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Frenchtown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Frenchtown’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 Frenchtown?
By FEMA money that reached Frenchtown, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 57 households applied for aid, $170K approved, and $46K to the Borough of Frenchtown for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 4 paid, $138K.
Is Frenchtown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Frenchtown’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Frenchtown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Frenchtown’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.