Photo: JERRYE · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Hillsdale faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hillsdale gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #191 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 341 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 Hillsdale’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Hillsdale 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
Hurricanes
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 Hillsdale’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hillsdale, and Hillsdale’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 8% (higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #191 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hillsdale’s 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, Hillsdale has less expected damage per building than 59% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.2M a year in losses across Hillsdale: $2.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hillsdale flood? Yes: 341 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hillsdale, from FEMA’s records: 94.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene69 claims · $2.6M
- Hurricane Floyd65 claims · $2.0M
- The April 2007 nor’easter47 claims · $663K
Hillsdale 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.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hillsdale
Disasters that paid out in Hillsdale itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Hillsdale), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida96 households applied for aid$174K aid approved$159K to the Borough of Hillsdale for repairs28 flood claims paid for it, $798K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$109K to the Borough of Hillsdale for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$74K to the Borough of Hillsdale for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$47K to the Borough of Hillsdale for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy42 households applied for aid$793 aid approved$154K to the Borough of Hillsdale for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Severe Storm$87K to the Borough of Hillsdale for repairs
Show all 11
- 2011Hurricane Irene104 households applied for aid$211K aid approved$92K to the Borough of Hillsdale for repairs69 flood claims paid for it, $2.6M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$27K to the Borough of Hillsdale for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding8 households applied for aid$1K aid approved$72K to the Borough of Hillsdale for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding101 households applied for aid$61K aid approved$27K to the Borough of Hillsdale for repairs48 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$306K to the Borough of Hillsdale for repairs65 flood claims paid for it, $2.0M
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 Hillsdale after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hillsdale archive →Hillsdale and its neighbors
Hillsdale is 5th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodcliff Lake | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Park Ridge | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Saddle River | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 67 |
| Washington Township | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
| Hillsdale | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 341 |
| River Vale Township | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 112 |
| Westwood | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 629 |
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 Hillsdale 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.
- 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.
- 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 Hillsdale
Is Hillsdale at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hillsdale has lower expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #191 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and earthquakes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hillsdale flood?
Flood insurance has paid 341 claims in Hillsdale since 1979, $7.1M in all, or 94.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 51 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (69).
Is Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hillsdale’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 Hillsdale?
By FEMA money that reached Hillsdale, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 96 households applied for aid, $174K approved, and $159K to the Borough of Hillsdale for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 69 paid, $2.6M.
Is Hillsdale at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Hillsdale’s rate for it is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hillsdale.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hillsdale’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.