Photo: Toinfin · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Highland Park’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 77% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Highland Park gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, #359 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 57 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 Highland Park’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Highland Park 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 Highland Park’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Highland Park, and Highland Park’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 4%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #359 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Highland Park’s residents live in 3 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, Highland Park has more expected damage per building than 77% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.5M a year in losses across Highland Park: $3.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Highland Park flood? Sometimes: 57 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Highland Park, from FEMA’s records: 8.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida12 claims · $843K
- Hurricane Irene9 claims · $95K
- The April 2007 nor’easter5 claims · $83K
Highland Park isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Middlesex County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Highland Park
Disasters that paid out in Highland Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Highland Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida269 households applied for aid$785K aid approved$279K to the Borough of Highland Park for repairs12 flood claims paid for it, $843K
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$54K to the Borough of Highland Park for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy189 households applied for aid$17K aid approved$161K to the Borough of Highland Park for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene120 households applied for aid$270K aid approved$45K to the Borough of Highland Park for repairs9 flood claims paid for it, $95K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$23K to the Borough of Highland Park for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding15 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
Show all 8
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding34 households applied for aid$26K aid approved6 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$12K to the Borough of Highland Park for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $20K
Middlesex County has had 22 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 Highland Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Highland Park archive →Highland Park and its neighbors
Highland Park is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edison Township | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 154 |
| Highland Park | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 57 |
| New Brunswick | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 82 |
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 Highland Park 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 Highland Park
Is Highland Park at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Highland Park has higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #359 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Highland Park flood?
Flood insurance has paid 57 claims in Highland Park since 1979, $1.2M in all, or 8.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 7 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (12).
Is Highland Park 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 Middlesex County, 54% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Highland Park?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Highland Park’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 Highland Park?
By FEMA money that reached Highland Park, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 269 households applied for aid, $785K approved, and $279K to the Borough of Highland Park for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 12 paid, $843K.
Is Highland Park at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Highland Park’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Highland Park.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Highland Park’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.