Photo: Zeete · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Hillsborough Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hillsborough Township gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #183 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). Flood insurance has paid 196 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 Hillsborough Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Hillsborough 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
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 Hillsborough Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hillsborough Township, and Hillsborough Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 5% (higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #183 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hillsborough Township’s residents live in 9 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, Hillsborough Township has less expected damage per building than 61% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $15.7M a year in losses across Hillsborough Township: $12.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hillsborough Township flood? Yes: 196 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hillsborough Township, from FEMA’s records: 11.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene54 claims · $4.1M
- Hurricane Ida44 claims · $4.6M
- Hurricane Floyd31 claims · $1.3M
Hillsborough 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: Somerset County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hillsborough Township
Disasters that paid out in Hillsborough Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Hillsborough Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida1,004 households applied for aid$3.7M aid approved$565K to Hillsborough Township for repairs44 flood claims paid for it, $4.6M
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$157K to Hillsborough Township for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy402 households applied for aid$100K aid approved$287K to Hillsborough Township for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$12K to Hillsborough Township for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene340 households applied for aid$988K aid approved$119K to Hillsborough Township for repairs54 flood claims paid for it, $4.1M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$103K to Hillsborough Township for repairs
Show all 9
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding22 households applied for aid$62K aid approved
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding40 households applied for aid$119K aid approved$9K to Hillsborough Township for repairs20 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$147K to Hillsborough Township for repairs31 flood claims paid for it, $1.3M
Somerset 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 Hillsborough Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hillsborough Township archive →Hillsborough Township and its neighbors
Hillsborough Township has the lowest expected damage per building of the 7 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 196 |
| Franklin Township | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 188 |
| Bridgewater Township | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 225 |
| Branchburg Township | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 185 |
| Readington Township | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| Montgomery Township | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 115 |
| Manville | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 1,676 |
| Neshanic Station | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Neshanic | — | 626 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Millstone | — | 655 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Weston | — | 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 Hillsborough 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.
- 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 Hillsborough Township
Is Hillsborough Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hillsborough Township has lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #183 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and earthquakes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hillsborough Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 196 claims in Hillsborough Township since 1978, $11.9M in all, or 11.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 27 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (54).
Is Hillsborough 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 Somerset County, 53% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hillsborough Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough Township?
By FEMA money that reached Hillsborough Township, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 1,004 households applied for aid, $3.7M approved, and $565K to Hillsborough Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 54 paid, $4.1M.
Is Hillsborough Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Hillsborough Township’s rate for it is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hillsborough Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hillsborough 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.