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B+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Glen Ridge · FEMA

FEMA puts Glen Ridge’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 67% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Glen Ridge gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns, #116 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 22 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 87%Hurricanes 5%Earthquakes 4%

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

less than 67%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#116 of 468 in New Jersey
Hazard risk
B+#116 of 468
in New Jersey · lower than 67% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
87% of expected building damage
Flood claims
22
paid since 1979 · $198K
Flooded more than once
2
properties
Disasters paid out here
9
of 24 declared for Essex County

What stands out about Glen Ridge’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Lower expected damage than 67% of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.Remembers 20117 flood claims were paid for 2011 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Glen Ridge 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

87%of expected building damage
About average · higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

5%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 10 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Tornadoes Hail Strong wind Winter storms Ice storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingWildfireAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Glen Ridge’s grade

River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Glen Ridge, and Glen Ridge’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 5% (higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Glen Ridge sits
Glen Ridge
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B+ #116 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns (21,298).

All of Glen Ridge’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding87%Hurricanes5%Earthquakes4%Everything else4%

The typical New Jersey town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, Glen Ridge has less expected damage per building than 75% of New Jersey towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Glen Ridge: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Shared tract.All of Glen Ridge’s 7,802 residents (2020 census) live in one census tract. FEMA publishes its model by tract, so the rate and the hazard mix are the tract’s. The flood claims below are the town’s own.
A shared figure. The grade describes the whole tract, not each street in it, and FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Glen Ridge flood? Sometimes: 22 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Glen Ridge, from FEMA’s records: 8.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 1 claim1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 1 claim1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 4 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 1 claim2011: 7 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 6 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 2 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims200720112021
19792026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Ida6 claims · $105K
  • Hurricane Irene6 claims · $19K
  • The April 2007 nor’easter4 claims · $14K
22
paid claims since 1979
$198K
paid to owners
2
homes flooded more than once
$9K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Glen Ridge isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Essex County.
Disasters

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Glen Ridge

Disasters that paid out in Glen Ridge itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Glen Ridge), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida98 households applied for aid$259K aid approved$98K to the Borough of Glen Ridge for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $105K
  2. 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$161K to the Borough of Glen Ridge for repairs
  3. 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$51K to the Borough of Glen Ridge for repairs
  4. 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$45K to the Borough of Glen Ridge for repairs
  5. 2012Hurricane Sandy67 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$489K to the Borough of Glen Ridge for repairs
  6. 2011Hurricane Irene63 households applied for aid$109K aid approved6 flood claims paid for it, $19K
Show all 9
  1. 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$31K to the Borough of Glen Ridge for repairs
  2. 2010Severe Storms and Flooding8 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
  3. 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding21 households applied for aid$32K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Glen RidgeEssex County only

Essex County has had 24 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Glen Ridge after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Glen Ridge archive →
Next door

Glen Ridge and its neighbors

Glen Ridge is 2nd of the 3 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Bloomfield Township: hazard risk C−Montclair Township: hazard risk A−Watsessing: not gradedBrookdale: not gradedBloomfield TownshipMontclair TownshipWatsessingBrookdaleGlen Ridge
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
Montclair TownshipA−less damage than 83%river and rain flooding223
Glen RidgeB+less damage than 67%river and rain flooding22
Bloomfield TownshipC−more damage than 80%river and rain flooding520
Watsessing—a Census area inside a town; graded with the town
Brookdale—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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Glen Ridge faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Glen Ridge

Is Glen Ridge at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Glen Ridge has lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #116 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and hurricanes (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 Glen Ridge flood?

Flood insurance has paid 22 claims in Glen Ridge since 1979, $198K in all, or 8.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (6).

Is Glen Ridge 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 Essex County, 50% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.9% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Glen Ridge?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Glen Ridge’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 Glen Ridge?

By FEMA money that reached Glen Ridge, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 67 households applied for aid, $3K approved, and $489K to the Borough of Glen Ridge for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 6 paid, $105K.

Is Glen Ridge at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Glen Ridge’s rate for it is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Glen Ridge.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Glen Ridge’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.