Photo: King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Jersey City faces more hazard damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Jersey City gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns, #275 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 1,361 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 Jersey City’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Jersey City 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 Jersey City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Jersey City, and Jersey City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #275 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Jersey City’s residents live in 77 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, Jersey City has more expected damage per building than 59% of New Jersey towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Jersey City has higher expected damage per building than 54% (#218 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $66.6M, is the 180th largest of those 400.
Does Jersey City flood? Yes: 1,361 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Jersey City, from FEMA’s records: 10.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy532 claims · $41.9M
- Hurricane Irene222 claims · $3.3M
- Hurricane Ida154 claims · $4.2M
Jersey City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hudson County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Jersey City
Disasters that paid out in Jersey City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Jersey City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida3,388 households applied for aid$8.0M aid approved$523K to the City of Jersey City for repairs154 flood claims paid for it, $4.2M
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$85K to the City of Jersey City for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy14,579 households applied for aid$11.7M aid approved$12.5M to the City of Jersey City for repairs532 flood claims paid for it, $41.9M
- 2011Hurricane Irene1,498 households applied for aid$1.8M aid approved$241K to the City of Jersey City for repairs222 flood claims paid for it, $3.3M
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding223 households applied for aid$149K aid approved$24K to the City of Jersey City for repairs80 flood claims paid that year
- 2001Flooding, Severe Storms and Tornadoes$1K to the City of Jersey City for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
Show all 7
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Emergency Declarations$203K to the City of Jersey City for repairs28 flood claims paid that year
Hudson County has had 15 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 Jersey City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Jersey City archive →Jersey City and its neighbors
Jersey City is 5th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 36,272 |
| Union City | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Bayonne | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 126 |
| North Bergen Township | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 109 |
| Jersey City | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 1,361 |
| Secaucus | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 62 |
| Kearny | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 249 |
| Hoboken | D−more damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 1,621 |
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 Jersey City 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 Jersey City
Is Jersey City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Jersey City has higher expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #275 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and earthquakes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Jersey City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,361 claims in Jersey City since 1978, $54.5M in all, or 10.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 226 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (532).
Is Jersey City 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 Hudson County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Jersey City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Jersey City’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 Jersey City?
By FEMA money that reached Jersey City, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 14,579 households applied for aid, $11.7M approved, and $12.5M to the City of Jersey City for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 532 paid, $41.9M.
Is Jersey City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Jersey City’s rate for it is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Jersey City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Jersey City’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.