Photo: Jared Kofsky/PlaceNJ.com · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Haledon’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Haledon gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #431 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 23 claims here since 1984.
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 Haledon 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
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 Haledon’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Haledon, and Haledon’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D #431 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Haledon’s residents live in 2 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, Haledon has more expected damage per building than 92% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.1M a year in losses across Haledon: $2.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Haledon flood? Sometimes: 23 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Haledon, from FEMA’s records: 7.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida6 claims · $104K
- Hurricane Irene3 claims · $27K
- The April 2007 nor’easter1 claim · $1K
Haledon isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Passaic County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Haledon
Disasters that paid out in Haledon itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Haledon), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida270 households applied for aid$809K aid approved$54K to the Borough of Haledon for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $104K
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$24K to the Borough of Haledon for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy92 households applied for aid$11K aid approved$54K to the Borough of Haledon for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$9K to the Borough of Haledon for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene80 households applied for aid$174K aid approved$17K to the Borough of Haledon for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $27K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$20K to the Borough of Haledon for repairs
Show all 8
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding17 households applied for aid$30K aid approved$4K to the Borough of Haledon for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$56K to the Borough of Haledon for repairs
Passaic County has had 21 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 Haledon after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Haledon archive →Haledon and its neighbors
Haledon is 6th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Haledon | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Totowa | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 475 |
| Paterson | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 1,078 |
| Wayne Township | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 5,568 |
| Prospect Park | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Haledon | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Preakness | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey | — | 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 Haledon 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.
- 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 Haledon
Is Haledon at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Haledon has higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #431 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Haledon flood?
Flood insurance has paid 23 claims in Haledon since 1984, $153K in all, or 7.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (6).
Is Haledon 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 Passaic County, 48% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Haledon?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Haledon’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 Haledon?
By FEMA money that reached Haledon, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 270 households applied for aid, $809K approved, and $54K to the Borough of Haledon for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 6 paid, $104K.
Is Haledon at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Haledon’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Haledon.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Haledon’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.