Photo: Princewill121 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Garfield as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Garfield gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #221 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 307 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 Garfield’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Garfield 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
Hurricanes
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 Garfield’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Garfield, and Garfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 8% (higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #221 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Garfield’s residents live in 7 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, Garfield has less expected damage per building than 53% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.5M a year in losses across Garfield: $5.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Garfield flood? Yes: 307 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Garfield, from FEMA’s records: 25.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene105 claims · $3.0M
- Hurricane Floyd43 claims · $404K
- Hurricane Ida41 claims · $1.3M
Garfield 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.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Garfield
Disasters that paid out in Garfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Garfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida448 households applied for aid$981K aid approved$535K to the City of Garfield for repairs41 flood claims paid for it, $1.3M
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$29K to the City of Garfield for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$72K to the City of Garfield for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy465 households applied for aid$20K aid approved$240K to the City of Garfield for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storm$30K to the City of Garfield for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene339 households applied for aid$732K aid approved$99K to the City of Garfield for repairs105 flood claims paid for it, $3.0M
Show all 10
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$41K to the City of Garfield for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding7 households applied for aid$169 aid approved
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding92 households applied for aid$136K aid approved$25K to the City of Garfield for repairs40 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$92K to the City of Garfield for repairs43 flood claims paid for it, $404K
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 Garfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Garfield archive →Garfield and its neighbors
Garfield is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clifton | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 125 |
| Elmwood Park | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 80 |
| Passaic | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 140 |
| Garfield | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 307 |
| Saddle Brook Township | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 404 |
| Lodi | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 901 |
| South Hackensack Township | Dmore damage than 86% | coastal flooding | 45 |
| Wallington | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 638 |
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 Garfield 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.
- 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.
- 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 Garfield
Is Garfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Garfield has higher expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #221 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and earthquakes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Garfield flood?
Flood insurance has paid 307 claims in Garfield since 1978, $5.7M in all, or 25.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 38 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (105).
Is Garfield 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 Garfield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Garfield’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 Garfield?
By FEMA money that reached Garfield, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 448 households applied for aid, $981K approved, and $535K to the City of Garfield for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 105 paid, $3.0M.
Is Garfield at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Garfield’s rate for it is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Garfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Garfield’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.