Photo: Magalags · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Little Falls Township’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Little Falls Township gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #388 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 1,657 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 Little Falls Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Little Falls Township 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 Little Falls Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Little Falls Township, and Little Falls Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #388 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Little Falls Township’s residents live in 4 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, Little Falls Township has more expected damage per building than 83% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.6M a year in losses across Little Falls Township: $4.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Little Falls Township flood? Yes: 1,657 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Little Falls Township, from FEMA’s records: 284.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene297 claims · $11.4M
- The March 2010 nor’easter221 claims · $4.3M
- The April 2007 nor’easter215 claims · $4.6M
Little Falls Township is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Passaic County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Little Falls Township
Disasters that paid out in Little Falls Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Little Falls Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida351 households applied for aid$994K aid approved$240K to Little Falls Township for repairs93 flood claims paid for it, $4.3M
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$85K to Little Falls Township for repairs54 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy165 households applied for aid$43K aid approved$156K to Little Falls Township for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storm$67K to Little Falls Township for repairs
- 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee$83K to Little Falls Township for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene487 households applied for aid$1.7M aid approved$483K to Little Falls Township for repairs297 flood claims paid for it, $11.4M
Show all 10
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$20K to Little Falls Township for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding185 households applied for aid$193K aid approved$207K to Little Falls Township for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding190 households applied for aid$228K aid approved$190K to Little Falls Township for repairs221 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding143 households applied for aid$134K aid approved138 flood claims paid that year
Passaic 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 Little Falls Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Little Falls Township archive →Little Falls Township and its neighbors
Little Falls Township is 8th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montclair Township | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 223 |
| North Caldwell | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Clifton | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 125 |
| Cedar Grove Township | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Totowa | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 475 |
| Woodland Park | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 572 |
| Wayne Township | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 5,568 |
| Little Falls Township | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 1,657 |
| Singac | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Great Notch | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Montclair State University | — | 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 Little Falls Township 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.
- Little Falls Township 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 Little Falls Township
Is Little Falls Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Little Falls Township has higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #388 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Little Falls Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,657 claims in Little Falls Township since 1978, $40.0M in all, or 284.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 291 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (297).
Is Little Falls Township 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 Passaic County, 48% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Little Falls Township?
Little Falls Township 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 Little Falls Township?
By FEMA money that reached Little Falls Township, Hurricane Irene (2011): 487 households applied for aid, $1.7M approved, and $483K to Little Falls Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 297 paid, $11.4M.
Is Little Falls Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Little Falls Township’s rate for it is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Little Falls Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Little Falls Township’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.