Photo: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Harrison Township’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Harrison Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #31 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1981.
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 Harrison 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
Earthquakes
Strong wind
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 Harrison Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Harrison Township, and Harrison Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 6%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
A #31 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Harrison Township’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, Harrison Township has less expected damage per building than 94% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.4M a year in losses across Harrison Township: $2.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Harrison Township flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Harrison Township, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Torrential rain1 claim · $8K
Harrison 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.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Harrison Township
Disasters that paid out in Harrison Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Harrison Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida$164K to Harrison Township for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$10K to Harrison Township for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$7K to Harrison Township for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding$28K to Harrison Township for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$21K to Harrison Township for repairs
- 2009Snowstorm$25K to Harrison Township for repairs
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 Harrison Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Harrison Township archive →Harrison Township and its neighbors
Harrison Township is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elk Township | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Glassboro | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Mantua Township | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Harrison Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| South Harrison Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Woolwich Township | A−less damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| East Greenwich Township | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Richwood | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Mullica Hill | — | 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 Harrison 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- 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 Harrison Township
Is Harrison Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Harrison Township has lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #31 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and earthquakes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Harrison Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Harrison Township since 1981, $19K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Torrential rain (1).
Is Harrison 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 Harrison Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Harrison 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 Harrison Township?
By FEMA money that reached Harrison Township, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): $164K to Harrison Township for repairs. By flood claims, Torrential rain: 1 paid, $8K.
Is Harrison Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Harrison Township’s rate for it is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Harrison Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Harrison 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.