Photo: Skarwowski · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Hillside Township than in 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hillside Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #79 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%), then earthquakes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 199 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 Hillside Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Hillside 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
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 Hillside Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Hillside Township, and Hillside Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 12% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #79 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Hillside Township’s residents live in 5 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, Hillside Township has less expected damage per building than 83% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.6M a year in losses across Hillside Township: $3.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Hillside Township flood? Yes: 199 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Hillside Township, from FEMA’s records: 26.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd43 claims · $380K
- Hurricane Ida33 claims · $2.1M
- Hurricane Irene16 claims · $266K
Hillside 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: Union County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Hillside Township
Disasters that paid out in Hillside Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Hillside Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida801 households applied for aid$4.2M aid approved$1.0M to Hillside Township for repairs33 flood claims paid for it, $2.1M
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$91K to Hillside Township for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy1,496 households applied for aid$306K aid approved$980K to Hillside Township for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$87K to Hillside Township for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene296 households applied for aid$518K aid approved$48K to Hillside Township for repairs16 flood claims paid for it, $266K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$41K to Hillside Township for repairs
Show all 9
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding14 households applied for aid$9K aid approved
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding86 households applied for aid$85K aid approved15 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$43K to Hillside Township for repairs43 flood claims paid for it, $380K
Union 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 Hillside Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Hillside Township archive →Hillside Township and its neighbors
Hillside Township has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillside Township | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 199 |
| Elizabeth | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 228 |
| Union Township | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 361 |
| Newark | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 222 |
| Kean University | — | 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 Hillside 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.
- 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 Hillside Township
Is Hillside Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Hillside Township has lower expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #79 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and earthquakes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Hillside Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 199 claims in Hillside Township since 1978, $3.1M in all, or 26.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 34 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (43).
Is Hillside 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 Union County, 49% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Hillside Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Hillside 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 Hillside Township?
By FEMA money that reached Hillside Township, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 801 households applied for aid, $4.2M approved, and $1.0M to Hillside Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 43 paid, $380K.
Is Hillside Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Hillside Township’s rate for it is lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Hillside Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Hillside 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.