Photo: Isablidine · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Lawnside faces less hazard damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lawnside gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #35 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%), then earthquakes (12%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Lawnside 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 Lawnside’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lawnside, and Lawnside’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 12% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
A #35 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Lawnside’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, Lawnside has less expected damage per building than 93% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $700K a year in losses across Lawnside: $537K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lawnside flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Lawnside. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Lawnside isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Camden County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lawnside
Disasters that paid out in Lawnside itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Lawnside), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Hurricane Sandy19 households applied for aid$6K aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene81 households applied for aid$72K aid approved
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$7K to the Borough of Lawnside for repairs
- 2009Snowstorm$7K to the Borough of Lawnside for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding10 households applied for aid$24K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding26 households applied for aid$71K aid approved
Camden County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter 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 Lawnside after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lawnside archive →Lawnside and its neighbors
Lawnside is 4th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barrington | Aless damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Magnolia | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Voorhees Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Lawnside | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Somerdale | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Haddonfield | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Cherry Hill Township | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 115 |
| Ashland | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Tavistock | — | 4 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Echelon | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Lawnside 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 Lawnside
Is Lawnside at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lawnside has lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #35 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and earthquakes (12%). 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.
Is Lawnside 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 Camden County, 34% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Lawnside?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lawnside’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 Lawnside?
By FEMA money that reached Lawnside, Hurricane Irene (2011): 81 households applied for aid, $72K approved.
Is Lawnside at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Lawnside’s rate for it is lower than 73% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lawnside.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lawnside’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.