Ward-Force House and Condit Family Cook House · Photo: Jared Kofsky/PlaceNJ.com · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Livingston Township than in 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Livingston Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #121 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 189 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 Livingston Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Livingston 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
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 Livingston Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Livingston Township, and Livingston Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 5% (higher than 62% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #121 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Livingston Township’s residents live in 5 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, Livingston Township has less expected damage per building than 74% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.9M a year in losses across Livingston Township: $8.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Livingston Township flood? Yes: 189 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Livingston Township, from FEMA’s records: 17.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd45 claims · $462K
- Hurricane Irene31 claims · $416K
- Hurricane Ida24 claims · $1.4M
Livingston Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Essex County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Livingston Township
Disasters that paid out in Livingston Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Livingston Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida309 households applied for aid$941K aid approved$169K to Livingston Township for repairs24 flood claims paid for it, $1.4M
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$584K to Livingston Township for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$709K to Livingston Township for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$129K to Livingston Township for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy257 households applied for aid$27K aid approved$582K to Livingston Township for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storm$581K to Livingston Township for repairs
Show all 11
- 2011Hurricane Irene137 households applied for aid$328K aid approved$165K to Livingston Township for repairs31 flood claims paid for it, $416K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$77K to Livingston Township for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding10 households applied for aid$16K aid approved$65K to Livingston Township for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding11 households applied for aid$5K aid approved$9K to Livingston Township for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$77K to Livingston Township for repairs45 flood claims paid for it, $462K
Essex County has had 24 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 Livingston Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Livingston Township archive →Livingston Township and its neighbors
Livingston Township 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florham Park | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Livingston Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 189 |
| West Orange Township | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 185 |
| Roseland | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| Millburn Township | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 303 |
| East Hanover Township | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 89 |
| Short Hills | — | 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 Livingston 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.
- 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 Livingston Township
Is Livingston Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Livingston Township has lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #121 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and earthquakes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Livingston Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 189 claims in Livingston Township since 1978, $2.7M in all, or 17.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 82% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 15 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (45).
Is Livingston 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 Essex County, 50% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Livingston Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Livingston Township’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 Livingston Township?
By FEMA money that reached Livingston Township, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 309 households applied for aid, $941K approved, and $169K to Livingston Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 45 paid, $462K.
Is Livingston Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Livingston Township’s rate for it is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Livingston Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Livingston 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.