Photo: Zeete · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Lambertville than in 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lambertville gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, #459 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 428 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 stands out about Lambertville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Lambertville 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 Lambertville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lambertville, and Lambertville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 3%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #459 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Lambertville’s 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, Lambertville has more expected damage per building than 98% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.1M a year in losses across Lambertville: $4.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lambertville flood? Yes: 428 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lambertville, from FEMA’s records: 181.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida105 claims · $7.6M
- Hurricane Irene66 claims · $1.3M
- The Torrential rain16 claims · $226K
Lambertville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Hunterdon County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lambertville
Disasters that paid out in Lambertville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Lambertville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida452 households applied for aid$2.1M aid approved$1.8M to the City of Lambertville for repairs105 flood claims paid for it, $7.6M
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$23K to the City of Lambertville for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy91 households applied for aid$4K aid approved$36K to the City of Lambertville for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$7K to the City of Lambertville for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$5K to the City of Lambertville for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene315 households applied for aid$732K aid approved$131K to the City of Lambertville for repairs66 flood claims paid for it, $1.3M
Show all 11
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$276 aid approved
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding61 households applied for aid$44K aid approved$17K to the City of Lambertville for repairs84 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding82 households applied for aid$126K aid approved87 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding57 households applied for aid$164K aid approved$18K to the City of Lambertville for repairs50 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$22K to the City of Lambertville for repairs10 flood claims paid for it, $68K
Hunterdon County has had 18 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 Lambertville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lambertville archive →Lambertville and its neighbors
Lambertville 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Amwell Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Solebury Township | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 199 |
| Delaware Township | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 55 |
| New Hope | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 329 |
| Lambertville | D−more damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 428 |
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 Lambertville 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.
- Lambertville residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Lambertville
Is Lambertville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lambertville has higher expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #459 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). 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 Lambertville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 428 claims in Lambertville since 1983, $13.3M in all, or 181.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 82 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (105).
Is Lambertville 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 Hunterdon County, 66% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Lambertville?
Lambertville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Lambertville?
By FEMA money that reached Lambertville, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 452 households applied for aid, $2.1M approved, and $1.8M to the City of Lambertville for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 105 paid, $7.6M.
Is Lambertville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Lambertville’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lambertville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lambertville’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.