Photo: KForce at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Hackensack as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hackensack gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #253 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 416 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 Hackensack’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Hackensack 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 Hackensack’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hackensack, and Hackensack’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 8% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #253 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hackensack’s residents live in 12 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, Hackensack has more expected damage per building than 54% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $12.9M a year in losses across Hackensack: $10.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hackensack flood? Yes: 416 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hackensack, from FEMA’s records: 19.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene84 claims · $4.4M
- Hurricane Ida77 claims · $7.9M
- Hurricane Sandy45 claims · $3.4M
Hackensack 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.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hackensack
Disasters that paid out in Hackensack itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Hackensack), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida771 households applied for aid$2.1M aid approved$424K to the City of Hackensack for repairs77 flood claims paid for it, $7.9M
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$131K to the City of Hackensack for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$47K to the City of Hackensack for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$76K to the City of Hackensack for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy1,356 households applied for aid$1.2M aid approved$1.1M to the City of Hackensack for repairs45 flood claims paid for it, $3.4M
- 2011Severe Storm$131K to the City of Hackensack for repairs
Show all 11
- 2011Hurricane Irene341 households applied for aid$765K aid approved$233K to the City of Hackensack for repairs84 flood claims paid for it, $4.4M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$131K to the City of Hackensack for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding13 households applied for aid$1K aid approved$96K to the City of Hackensack for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding185 households applied for aid$190K aid approved$94K to the City of Hackensack for repairs51 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$30K to the City of Hackensack for repairs40 flood claims paid for it, $960K
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 Hackensack after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hackensack archive →Hackensack and its neighbors
Hackensack is 6th of the 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maywood | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Teaneck Township | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 84 |
| Hasbrouck Heights | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Ridgefield Park | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 202 |
| Paramus | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 140 |
| Hackensack | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 416 |
| Bogota | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Lodi | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 901 |
| River Edge | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 84 |
| South Hackensack Township | Dmore damage than 86% | coastal flooding | 45 |
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 Hackensack 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 Hackensack
Is Hackensack at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hackensack has higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #253 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 Hackensack flood?
Flood insurance has paid 416 claims in Hackensack since 1978, $20.2M in all, or 19.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 77 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (84).
Is Hackensack 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 Hackensack?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hackensack’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 Hackensack?
By FEMA money that reached Hackensack, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 771 households applied for aid, $2.1M approved, and $424K to the City of Hackensack for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 84 paid, $4.4M.
Is Hackensack at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Hackensack’s rate for it is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hackensack.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hackensack’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.