Photo: Smallbones · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Greenwich Township faces more hazard damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greenwich Township gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns, #464 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (53%), then coastal flooding (42%). Flood insurance has paid 48 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 Greenwich Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Greenwich Township 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
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 Greenwich Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 53% of the building damage FEMA expects in Greenwich Township, and Greenwich Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 42%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #464 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Greenwich Township’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New Jersey town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, Greenwich Township has more expected damage per building than 99% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.1M a year in losses across Greenwich Township: $5.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Greenwich Township flood? Sometimes: 48 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Greenwich Township, from FEMA’s records: 23.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene11 claims · $53K
- The April 2007 nor’easter6 claims · $26K
- Hurricane Floyd3 claims · $4K
Greenwich Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Gloucester County.The storms Greenwich Township remembers
None of the 20 disasters declared for Gloucester County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Greenwich Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 201112 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Irene, declared for Gloucester County
- 20077 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding, declared for Gloucester County
- 20136 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Gloucester County has had 20 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 Greenwich Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Greenwich Township archive →Greenwich Township and its neighbors
Greenwich Township is 7th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Greenwich Township | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Chester | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 148 |
| Logan Township | B−less damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Eddystone | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Tinicum Township | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 309 |
| Paulsboro | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Greenwich Township | D−more damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 48 |
| Gibbstown | — | 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.
Get ready for what Greenwich Township 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.
- 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 Greenwich Township
Is Greenwich Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greenwich Township has higher expected damage per building than 97% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #464 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (53%) and coastal flooding (42%). 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 Greenwich Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 48 claims in Greenwich Township since 1978, $232K in all, or 23.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (11).
Is Greenwich Township 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 Gloucester County, 50% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Greenwich Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Greenwich Township’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 Greenwich Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 11 paid, $53K.
Is Greenwich Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (53%), and Greenwich Township’s rate for it is in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Greenwich Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Greenwich Township’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.