Photo: General Magnaplate · CC BY 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Linden than in 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Linden gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #64 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%), then earthquakes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 299 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 Linden’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Linden 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
Coastal 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 Linden’s grade
River and rain flooding is 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Linden, and Linden’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 7%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #64 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Linden’s residents live in 10 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, Linden has less expected damage per building than 87% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.9M a year in losses across Linden: $7.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Linden flood? Yes: 299 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Linden, from FEMA’s records: 18.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene76 claims · $2.5M
- Hurricane Ida70 claims · $2.2M
- Hurricane Sandy38 claims · $2.4M
Linden is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Union County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Linden
Disasters that paid out in Linden itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Linden), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida1,380 households applied for aid$5.3M aid approved$343K to the City of Linden for repairs70 flood claims paid for it, $2.2M
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$174K to the City of Linden for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy2,121 households applied for aid$1.7M aid approved$1.7M to the City of Linden for repairs38 flood claims paid for it, $2.4M
- 2011Severe Storm$109K to the City of Linden for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene563 households applied for aid$977K aid approved$337K to the City of Linden for repairs76 flood claims paid for it, $2.5M
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding41 households applied for aid$87K aid approved8 flood claims paid that year
Show all 8
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding65 households applied for aid$80K aid approved$57K to the City of Linden for repairs10 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$41K to the City of Linden for repairs10 flood claims paid that year
Union County has had 21 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 Linden after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Linden archive →Linden and its neighbors
Linden is 3rd of the 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roselle | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 371 |
| New York | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 36,272 |
| Linden | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 299 |
| Elizabeth | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 228 |
| Carteret | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 196 |
| Woodbridge Township | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 597 |
| Clark Township | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 114 |
| Cranford Township | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 1,484 |
| Winfield Township | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Rahway | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 887 |
| Avenel | — | 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 Linden 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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.
- Linden residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Linden
Is Linden at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Linden has lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #64 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%) and earthquakes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Linden flood?
Flood insurance has paid 299 claims in Linden since 1978, $8.4M in all, or 18.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 83% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 30 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (76).
Is Linden 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 Union County, 49% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Linden?
Linden is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% 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 Linden?
By FEMA money that reached Linden, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 1,380 households applied for aid, $5.3M approved, and $343K to the City of Linden for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 76 paid, $2.5M.
Is Linden at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Linden’s rate for it is lower than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Linden.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Linden’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.