Photo: TimSPC at English Wikipedia · Public domainHasbrouck Heights’s building-damage rate from coastal flooding is in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hasbrouck Heights gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #147 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%). Flood insurance has paid 27 claims here since 1979.
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 Hasbrouck Heights’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Hasbrouck 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
Coastal flooding
Hurricanes
Earthquakes
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 Hasbrouck Heights’ grade
River and rain flooding is 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hasbrouck Heights, and Hasbrouck Heights’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 7%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
B #147 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hasbrouck Heights’ 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, Hasbrouck Heights has less expected damage per building than 69% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.5M a year in losses across Hasbrouck Heights: $2.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hasbrouck Heights flood? Sometimes: 27 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hasbrouck Heights, from FEMA’s records: 5.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida4 claims · $49K
- Hurricane Irene4 claims · $135K
- Hurricane Floyd3 claims · $180K
Hasbrouck 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: Bergen County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hasbrouck Heights
Disasters that paid out in Hasbrouck Heights itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida288 households applied for aid$1.2M aid approved$351K to the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $49K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$119K to the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$42K to the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$27K to the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy108 households applied for aid$20K aid approved$306K to the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Severe Storm$92K to the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights for repairs
Show all 12
- 2011Hurricane Irene126 households applied for aid$249K aid approved$73K to the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $135K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$45K to the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding12 households applied for aid$11K aid approved$75K to the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding145 households applied for aid$196K aid approved$26K to the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$230 aid approved
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$32K to the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $180K
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 Hasbrouck Heights after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hasbrouck Heights archive →Hasbrouck Heights and its neighbors
Hasbrouck Heights has the lowest expected damage per building of the 5 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hasbrouck Heights | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Wood-Ridge | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 42 |
| Hackensack | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 416 |
| Lodi | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 901 |
| Moonachie | D−among the highest damage | coastal flooding | 234 |
| Teterboro | — | 136 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Hasbrouck 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Hasbrouck Heights
Is Hasbrouck Heights at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hasbrouck Heights has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #147 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%) and coastal flooding (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hasbrouck Heights flood?
Flood insurance has paid 27 claims in Hasbrouck Heights since 1979, $826K in all, or 5.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (4).
Is Hasbrouck 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 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 Hasbrouck Heights?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hasbrouck 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 Hasbrouck Heights?
By FEMA money that reached Hasbrouck Heights, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 288 households applied for aid, $1.2M approved, and $351K to the Borough of Hasbrouck Heights for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 4 paid, $49K.
Is Hasbrouck Heights at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and Hasbrouck Heights’ rate for it is higher than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hasbrouck Heights.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hasbrouck 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.