Civil War Drill Hall and Armory · Photo: KForce at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Leonia than in 64% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Leonia gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #128 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 20 claims here since 1979.
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 Leonia’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Leonia 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
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 Leonia’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Leonia, and Leonia’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 8% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
B #128 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Leonia’s residents live in 2 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, Leonia has less expected damage per building than 73% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Leonia: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Leonia flood? Sometimes: 20 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Leonia, from FEMA’s records: 5.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida5 claims · $563K
- Hurricane Irene4 claims · $192K
- The April 2007 nor’easter1 claim · $1K
Leonia isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Bergen County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Leonia
Disasters that paid out in Leonia itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Leonia), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida111 households applied for aid$349K aid approved$27K to the Borough of Leonia for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $563K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$48K to the Borough of Leonia for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$53K to the Borough of Leonia for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy60 households applied for aid$850 aid approved$93K to the Borough of Leonia for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$71K to the Borough of Leonia for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene14 households applied for aid$37K aid approved$36K to the Borough of Leonia for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $192K
Show all 10
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$27K to the Borough of Leonia for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$556 aid approved$38K to the Borough of Leonia for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding23 households applied for aid$24K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$18K to the Borough of Leonia for repairs
Bergen County has had 23 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 Leonia after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Leonia archive →Leonia and its neighbors
Leonia is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lee | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Leonia | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Teaneck Township | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 84 |
| Palisades Park | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Ridgefield Park | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 202 |
| Englewood | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 338 |
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 Leonia 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.
- 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 Leonia
Is Leonia at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Leonia has lower expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #128 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and hurricanes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Leonia flood?
Flood insurance has paid 20 claims in Leonia since 1979, $917K in all, or 5.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 62% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (5).
Is Leonia 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 Bergen County, 41% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Leonia?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Leonia’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 Leonia?
By FEMA money that reached Leonia, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 111 households applied for aid, $349K approved, and $27K to the Borough of Leonia for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 5 paid, $563K.
Is Leonia at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Leonia’s rate for it is higher than 59% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Leonia.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Leonia’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.