Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Ho-Ho-Kus than in 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ho-Ho-Kus gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #407 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 38 claims here since 1983.
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 Ho-Ho-Kus 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 Ho-Ho-Kus’ grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ho-Ho-Kus, and Ho-Ho-Kus’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
D #407 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Ho-Ho-Kus’ residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New Jersey town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, Ho-Ho-Kus has more expected damage per building than 87% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.0M a year in losses across Ho-Ho-Kus: $2.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ho-Ho-Kus flood? Sometimes: 38 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ho-Ho-Kus, from FEMA’s records: 25.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd14 claims · $150K
- Hurricane Irene7 claims · $122K
- Hurricane Ida7 claims · $243K
Ho-Ho-Kus 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.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Ho-Ho-Kus
Disasters that paid out in Ho-Ho-Kus itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida36 households applied for aid$93K aid approved7 flood claims paid for it, $243K
- 2012Hurricane Sandy23 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene12 households applied for aid$17K aid approved7 flood claims paid for it, $122K
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$1K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding4 households applied for aid$11K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
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 Ho-Ho-Kus after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ho-Ho-Kus archive →Ho-Ho-Kus and its neighbors
Ho-Ho-Kus is 5th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saddle River | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 67 |
| Washington Township | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
| Waldwick | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 28 |
| Ridgewood | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 345 |
| Ho-Ho-Kus | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
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 Ho-Ho-Kus 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 Ho-Ho-Kus
Is Ho-Ho-Kus at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ho-Ho-Kus has higher expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #407 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ho-Ho-Kus flood?
Flood insurance has paid 38 claims in Ho-Ho-Kus since 1983, $556K in all, or 25.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (14).
Is Ho-Ho-Kus 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 Ho-Ho-Kus?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ho-Ho-Kus’ 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 Ho-Ho-Kus?
By FEMA money that reached Ho-Ho-Kus, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 36 households applied for aid, $93K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 14 paid, $150K.
Is Ho-Ho-Kus at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Ho-Ho-Kus’ rate for it is in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ho-Ho-Kus.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ho-Ho-Kus’ 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.