Photo: Zeete · CC BY-SA 4.0For strong wind, Lafayette Township’s building-damage rate is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lafayette Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%), then strong wind (16%). Flood insurance has paid 5 claims here since 2005.
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 Lafayette 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
Strong wind
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 Lafayette Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lafayette Township, and Lafayette Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 50% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 16%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
B lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Lafayette Township’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Lafayette Township: $828K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lafayette Township flood? Rarely: 5 flood claims since 2005
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lafayette Township, from FEMA’s records: 5.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The April 2007 nor’easter2 claims · $13K
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $3K
Lafayette 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: Sussex County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lafayette Township
Disasters that paid out in Lafayette Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Lafayette Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$48K to Lafayette Township for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy36 households applied for aid$6K aid approved$45K to Lafayette Township for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$31K to Lafayette Township for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene82 households applied for aid$132K aid approved$60K to Lafayette Township for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $3K
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$19K to Lafayette Township for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$461 aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 8
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
- 2000Severe Storms, Flooding and Mudslides$2K to Lafayette Township for repairs
Sussex County has had 20 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 Lafayette Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lafayette Township archive →Lafayette Township and its neighbors
Lafayette Township is 5th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparta Township | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Hardyston Township | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Andover Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Hampton Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Lafayette Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Frankford Township | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
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 Lafayette 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.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- 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 Lafayette Township
Is Lafayette Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lafayette Township has lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and strong wind (16%). 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 Lafayette Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 5 claims in Lafayette Township since 2005, $25K in all, or 5.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from April 2007 Nor'easter (2).
Is Lafayette 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 Sussex County, 36% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Lafayette Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lafayette 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 Lafayette Township?
By FEMA money that reached Lafayette Township, Hurricane Irene (2011): 82 households applied for aid, $132K approved, and $60K to Lafayette Township for repairs. By flood claims, April 2007 Nor'easter: 2 paid, $13K.
Is Lafayette Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Lafayette Township’s rate for it is higher than 50% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lafayette Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lafayette 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.