FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Irvington Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Irvington Township gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns, #195 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 128 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 Irvington Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Irvington 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 Irvington Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Irvington Township, and Irvington Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 7% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #195 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Irvington Township’s residents live in 15 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, Irvington Township has less expected damage per building than 58% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.7M a year in losses across Irvington Township: $6.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Irvington Township flood? Yes: 128 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Irvington Township, from FEMA’s records: 5.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida25 claims · $1.1M
- Hurricane Irene15 claims · $147K
- Hurricane Floyd10 claims · $50K
Irvington 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: Essex County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Irvington Township
Disasters that paid out in Irvington Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Irvington Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida1,778 households applied for aid$5.3M aid approved$210K to Irvington Township for repairs25 flood claims paid for it, $1.1M
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$211K to Irvington Township for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$166K to Irvington Township for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$120K to Irvington Township for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy4,296 households applied for aid$630K aid approved$1.1M to Irvington Township for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $15K
- 2011Severe Storm$144K to Irvington Township for repairs
Show all 11
- 2011Hurricane Irene867 households applied for aid$1.5M aid approved$266K to Irvington Township for repairs15 flood claims paid for it, $147K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$102K to Irvington Township for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding20 households applied for aid$36K aid approved$23K to Irvington Township for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding120 households applied for aid$129K aid approved22 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$15K to Irvington Township for repairs10 flood claims paid for it, $50K
Essex County has had 24 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 Irvington Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Irvington Township archive →Irvington Township and its neighbors
Irvington Township is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maplewood Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 86 |
| Union Township | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 361 |
| Newark | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 222 |
| Irvington Township | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 128 |
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 Irvington 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 Irvington Township
Is Irvington Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Irvington Township has lower expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #195 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and earthquakes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Irvington Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 128 claims in Irvington Township since 1978, $1.8M in all, or 5.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 60% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 17 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (25).
Is Irvington 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 Essex County, 50% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Irvington Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Irvington 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 Irvington Township?
By FEMA money that reached Irvington Township, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 1,778 households applied for aid, $5.3M approved, and $210K to Irvington Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 25 paid, $1.1M.
Is Irvington Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Irvington Township’s rate for it is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Irvington Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Irvington 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.