Photo: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Lincoln Park than in 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lincoln Park gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, #451 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). Flood insurance has paid 2,935 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 Lincoln Park’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Lincoln Park 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 Lincoln Park’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lincoln Park, and Lincoln Park’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
D #451 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lincoln Park’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, Lincoln Park has more expected damage per building than 96% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.2M a year in losses across Lincoln Park: $6.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lincoln Park flood? Yes: 2,935 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lincoln Park, from FEMA’s records: 724.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 100% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene579 claims · $29.4M
- The March 2010 nor’easter294 claims · $7.5M
- The April 2007 nor’easter286 claims · $7.2M
Lincoln Park is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Morris County.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lincoln Park
Disasters that paid out in Lincoln Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Lincoln Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida77 households applied for aid$90K aid approved$48K to the Borough of Lincoln Park for repairs
- 2021Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$68K to the Borough of Lincoln Park for repairs
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$105K to the Borough of Lincoln Park for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$127K to the Borough of Lincoln Park for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$33K to the Borough of Lincoln Park for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy243 households applied for aid$6K aid approved$319K to the Borough of Lincoln Park for repairs
Show all 13
- 2011Severe Storm$42K to the Borough of Lincoln Park for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene801 households applied for aid$2.5M aid approved$542K to the Borough of Lincoln Park for repairs579 flood claims paid for it, $29.4M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$20K to the Borough of Lincoln Park for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding221 households applied for aid$502K aid approved$172K to the Borough of Lincoln Park for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding205 households applied for aid$364K aid approved291 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding87 households applied for aid$97K aid approved206 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$68K to the Borough of Lincoln Park for repairs239 flood claims paid for it, $3.8M
Morris County has had 25 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 Lincoln Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lincoln Park archive →Lincoln Park and its neighbors
Lincoln Park is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield Township | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 1,821 |
| Kinnelon | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Wayne Township | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 5,568 |
| Pequannock Township | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 2,037 |
| Montville Township | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 104 |
| Lincoln Park | Dmore damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 2,935 |
| Towaco | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Pompton Plains | — | 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 Lincoln Park 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.
- Lincoln Park residents get 25% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Lincoln Park
Is Lincoln Park at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lincoln Park has higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #451 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lincoln Park flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2,935 claims in Lincoln Park since 1978, $65.8M in all, or 724.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 100% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 349 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (579).
Is Lincoln Park 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 Morris County, 1.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Lincoln Park?
Lincoln Park is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5), which takes 25% 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 Lincoln Park?
By FEMA money that reached Lincoln Park, Hurricane Irene (2011): 801 households applied for aid, $2.5M approved, and $542K to the Borough of Lincoln Park for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 579 paid, $29.4M.
Is Lincoln Park at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Lincoln Park’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lincoln Park.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lincoln Park’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.