Photo: User:KLOTZPLATE JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Haworth’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Haworth gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #29 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%). Flood insurance has paid 9 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 Haworth 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
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 Haworth’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Haworth, and Haworth’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 9% (higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts).
A #29 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Haworth’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New Jersey town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, Haworth has less expected damage per building than 94% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $851K a year in losses across Haworth: $727K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Haworth flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Haworth, from FEMA’s records: 7.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The April 2007 nor’easter2 claims · $11K
- Hurricane Ida1 claim · $7K
- The Torrential rain1 claim · $5K
Haworth 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.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Haworth
Disasters that paid out in Haworth itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Haworth), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida31 households applied for aid$99K aid approved$92K to the Borough of Haworth for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $7K
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$17K to the Borough of Haworth for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy18 households applied for aid$7K aid approved$292K to the Borough of Haworth for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$127K to the Borough of Haworth for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene5 households applied for aid$6K aid approved$31K to the Borough of Haworth for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$14K to the Borough of Haworth for repairs
Show all 9
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$791 aid approved$98K to the Borough of Haworth for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding43 households applied for aid$38K aid approved$38K to the Borough of Haworth for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$15K to the Borough of Haworth for repairs
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 Haworth after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Haworth archive →Haworth and its neighbors
Haworth 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haworth | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Emerson | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| Closter | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
| Dumont | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 91 |
| Oradell | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 28 |
| Demarest | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
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 Haworth 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.
- 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 Haworth
Is Haworth at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Haworth has lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #29 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and hurricanes (9%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Haworth flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Haworth since 1979, $98K in all, or 7.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from April 2007 Nor'easter (2).
Is Haworth 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 Haworth?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Haworth’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 Haworth?
By FEMA money that reached Haworth, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 18 households applied for aid, $7K approved, and $292K to the Borough of Haworth for repairs. By flood claims, April 2007 Nor'easter: 2 paid, $11K.
Is Haworth at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Haworth’s rate for it is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Haworth.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Haworth’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.