Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0For coastal flooding, Gloucester City’s building-damage rate is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gloucester City gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #244 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%), then coastal flooding (10%). Flood insurance has paid 21 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 Gloucester City’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Gloucester City 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
Coastal flooding
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 Gloucester City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Gloucester City, and Gloucester City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 10%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #244 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Gloucester City’s residents live in 3 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, Gloucester City has more expected damage per building than 52% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.4M a year in losses across Gloucester City: $2.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Gloucester City flood? Sometimes: 21 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Gloucester City, from FEMA’s records: 4.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The April 2007 nor’easter3 claims · $9K
- Hurricane Sandy1 claim · $252K
Gloucester City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Camden County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Gloucester City
Disasters that paid out in Gloucester City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Gloucester City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Hurricane Sandy20 households applied for aid$6K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $252K
- 2011Hurricane Irene54 households applied for aid$40K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding16 households applied for aid$13K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding9 households applied for aid$15K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
Camden County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter 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 Gloucester City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Gloucester City archive →Gloucester City and its neighbors
Gloucester City is 4th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haddon Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Mount Ephraim | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Philadelphia | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 1,177 |
| Gloucester City | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Westville | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| Camden | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 321 |
| Brooklawn | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
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 Gloucester City 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Gloucester City
Is Gloucester City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Gloucester City has higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #244 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and coastal flooding (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Gloucester City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 21 claims in Gloucester City since 1978, $728K in all, or 4.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from April 2007 Nor'easter (3).
Is Gloucester City 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 Camden County, 34% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Gloucester City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Gloucester City’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 Gloucester City?
By FEMA money that reached Gloucester City, Hurricane Irene (2011): 54 households applied for aid, $40K approved. By flood claims, April 2007 Nor'easter: 3 paid, $9K.
Is Gloucester City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Gloucester City’s rate for it is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Gloucester City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Gloucester City’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.