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TUTTLE HOUSE, WHIPPANY, MORRIS COUNTYPhoto: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD · CC BY-SA 3.0
BHazard risk
Natural hazards in Hanover Township · FEMA

FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Hanover Township than in 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hanover Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #139 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 72 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 86%Earthquakes 5%Hurricanes 5%

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

less than 62%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#139 of 468 in New Jersey
Hazard risk
B#139 of 468
in New Jersey · lower than 62% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
86% of expected building damage
Flood claims
72
paid since 1979 · $3.6M
Flooded more than once
11
properties · 1 “severe repetitive loss”
Disasters paid out here
11
of 25 declared for Morris County

What stands out about Hanover Township’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

Lower expected damage than 62% of U.S. townsFEMA’s model of yearly storm and flood damage per dollar of building.Remembers 201124 flood claims were paid for 2011 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What Hanover 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

86%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

5%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Hurricanes Tornadoes Strong wind Winter storms Hail Lightning Wildfire Ice storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Hanover Township’s grade

River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hanover Township, and Hanover Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 5% (higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Hanover Township sits
Hanover Township
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B #139 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Hanover Township’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding86%Earthquakes5%Hurricanes5%Everything else4%

The typical New Jersey town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, Hanover Township has less expected damage per building than 70% of New Jersey towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.7M a year in losses across Hanover Township: $4.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Hanover Township covers 3 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Hanover Township flood? Sometimes: 72 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hanover Township, from FEMA’s records: 12.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 7 claims1980: 0 claims1981: 1 claim1982: 0 claims1983: 1 claim1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 1 claim1995: 0 claims1996: 11 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 16 claims2000: 1 claim2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 4 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 1 claim2010: 0 claims2011: 24 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 1 claim2022: 0 claims2023: 1 claim2024: 3 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims199619992011
19792026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Irene20 claims · $1.7M
  • Hurricane Floyd16 claims · $1.1M
72
paid claims since 1979
$3.6M
paid to owners
11
homes flooded more than once
$50K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1)Flooded 2+ times
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Hanover 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: Morris County.
Disasters

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hanover Township

Disasters that paid out in Hanover Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Hanover Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida$11K to Hanover Township for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $5K
  2. 2021Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$150K to Hanover Township for repairs
  3. 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$102K to Hanover Township for repairs
  4. 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$152K to Hanover Township for repairs
  5. 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$73K to Hanover Township for repairs
  6. 2012Hurricane Sandy$262K to Hanover Township for repairs
Show all 11
  1. 2011Severe Storm$77K to Hanover Township for repairs
  2. 2011Hurricane Irene$84K to Hanover Township for repairs20 flood claims paid for it, $1.7M
  3. 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$52K to Hanover Township for repairs
  4. 2000Severe Storms, Flooding and Mudslides$4K to Hanover Township for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
  5. 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$59K to Hanover Township for repairs16 flood claims paid for it, $1.1M
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Hanover TownshipMorris County only

Morris County has had 25 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Hanover Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Hanover Township archive →
Next door

Hanover Township and its neighbors

Hanover Township is 2nd of the 5 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

East Hanover Township: hazard risk C−Morris Township: hazard risk BWhippany: not gradedParsippany-Troy Hills Township: hazard risk C−Cedar Knolls: not gradedMorris Plains: hazard risk B+Troy Hills: not gradedEast Hanover TownshipMorris TownshipWhippanyParsippany-Troy Hills TownshipCedar KnollsMorris PlainsTroy HillsHanover Township
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
Morris PlainsB+less damage than 72%river and rain flooding11
Hanover TownshipBless damage than 62%river and rain flooding72
Morris TownshipBless damage than 60%river and rain flooding58
Parsippany-Troy Hills TownshipC−more damage than 77%river and rain flooding542
East Hanover TownshipC−more damage than 77%river and rain flooding89
Whippany—a Census area inside a town; graded with the town
Cedar Knolls—a Census area inside a town; graded with the town
Troy Hills—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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Hanover 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.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Hanover Township

Is Hanover Township at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hanover Township has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #139 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and earthquakes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Hanover Township flood?

Flood insurance has paid 72 claims in Hanover Township since 1979, $3.6M in all, or 12.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 11 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (20).

Is Hanover 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 Morris County, 1.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.

How much is flood insurance in Hanover Township?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hanover 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 Hanover Township?

By FEMA money that reached Hanover Township, Hurricane Sandy (2012): $262K to Hanover Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 20 paid, $1.7M.

Is Hanover Township at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Hanover Township’s rate for it is higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hanover Township.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hanover 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.