Photo: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Haddon Heights’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Haddon Heights gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns, #2 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%), then earthquakes (15%). Flood insurance has paid 8 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 Haddon Heights 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 Haddon Heights’ grade
River and rain flooding is 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Haddon Heights, and Haddon Heights’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 91% of U.S. census tracts. Winter storms add 1%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
A+ #2 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Haddon Heights’ 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, Haddon Heights has less expected damage per building than 100% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Haddon Heights: $804K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Haddon Heights flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Haddon Heights, from FEMA’s records: 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 57% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Haddon Heights 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.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Haddon Heights
Disasters that paid out in Haddon Heights itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Haddon Heights), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$15K to the Borough of Haddon Heights for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$42K to the Borough of Haddon Heights for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene9 households applied for aid$1K aid approved$15K to the Borough of Haddon Heights for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$13K to the Borough of Haddon Heights for repairs
- 2009Snowstorm$11K to the Borough of Haddon Heights for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding5 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
Show all 8
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$761 to the Borough of Haddon Heights for repairs
- 2001Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes$2K to the Borough of Haddon Heights for repairs
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 Haddon Heights after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Haddon Heights archive →Haddon Heights and its neighbors
Haddon Heights has the lowest expected damage per building of the 6 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haddon Heights | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Audubon | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Barrington | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Haddonfield | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Bellmawr | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Mount Ephraim | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
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 Haddon Heights 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 Haddon Heights
Is Haddon Heights at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Haddon Heights has lower expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #2 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%) and earthquakes (15%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Haddon Heights flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Haddon Heights since 1978, $59K in all, or 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 57% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Haddon Heights 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 Haddon Heights?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Haddon Heights’ 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 Haddon Heights?
By FEMA money that reached Haddon Heights, Hurricane Sandy (2012): $42K to the Borough of Haddon Heights for repairs.
Is Haddon Heights at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Haddon Heights’ rate for it is lower than 91% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Haddon Heights.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Haddon Heights’ 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.