Photo: File:Rea House.jpg: Lithium6ion derivative work: Georgfotoart · Public domainFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Hawthorne than in 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hawthorne gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #350 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 241 claims here since 1978.
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 Hawthorne’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Hawthorne 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 Hawthorne’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hawthorne, and Hawthorne’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
C #350 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hawthorne’s residents live in 6 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, Hawthorne has more expected damage per building than 75% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.5M a year in losses across Hawthorne: $5.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hawthorne flood? Yes: 241 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hawthorne, from FEMA’s records: 30.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd19 claims · $731K
- Hurricane Irene14 claims · $551K
Hawthorne 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.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hawthorne
Disasters that paid out in Hawthorne itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Hawthorne), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida145 households applied for aid$295K aid approved$62K to the Borough of Hawthorne for repairs10 flood claims paid for it, $750K
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$28K to the Borough of Hawthorne for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy141 households applied for aid$11K aid approved$287K to the Borough of Hawthorne for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$18K to the Borough of Hawthorne for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$6K to the Borough of Hawthorne for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene110 households applied for aid$226K aid approved$145K to the Borough of Hawthorne for repairs14 flood claims paid for it, $551K
Show all 11
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$54K to the Borough of Hawthorne for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding15 households applied for aid$15K aid approved$24K to the Borough of Hawthorne for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding73 households applied for aid$59K aid approved$40K to the Borough of Hawthorne for repairs12 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$3K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$117K to the Borough of Hawthorne for repairs19 flood claims paid for it, $731K
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 Hawthorne after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hawthorne archive →Hawthorne and its neighbors
Hawthorne is 7th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyckoff Township | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| North Haledon | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Fair Lawn | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 291 |
| Paterson | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 1,078 |
| Glen Rock | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Prospect Park | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Hawthorne | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 241 |
| Ridgewood | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 345 |
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 Hawthorne 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 Hawthorne
Is Hawthorne at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hawthorne has higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #350 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hawthorne flood?
Flood insurance has paid 241 claims in Hawthorne since 1978, $4.8M in all, or 30.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 23 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (19).
Is Hawthorne 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 Hawthorne?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hawthorne’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 Hawthorne?
By FEMA money that reached Hawthorne, Hurricane Irene (2011): 110 households applied for aid, $226K approved, and $145K to the Borough of Hawthorne for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 19 paid, $731K.
Is Hawthorne at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Hawthorne’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hawthorne.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hawthorne’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.