Photo: Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page, my Commons user talk page, or my English Wikipedia user talk page; I'll know about it a lot faster) · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Manville faces more hazard damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Manville gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, #399 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 1,676 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 Manville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Manville 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
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 Manville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Manville, and Manville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 5% (higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #399 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Manville’s residents live in 3 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, Manville has more expected damage per building than 85% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.4M a year in losses across Manville: $3.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Manville flood? Yes: 1,676 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Manville, from FEMA’s records: 361.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene452 claims · $24.6M
- The April 2007 nor’easter296 claims · $9.1M
- Hurricane Floyd278 claims · $11.0M
Manville is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Somerset County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Manville
Disasters that paid out in Manville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Manville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida1,329 households applied for aid$8.9M aid approved$1.4M to the Borough of Manville for repairs266 flood claims paid for it, $23.5M
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$52K to the Borough of Manville for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy230 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$188K to the Borough of Manville for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Hurricane Irene1,022 households applied for aid$4.7M aid approved$344K to the Borough of Manville for repairs452 flood claims paid for it, $24.6M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$22K to the Borough of Manville for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding63 households applied for aid$95K aid approved$164K to the Borough of Manville for repairs
Show all 8
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding321 households applied for aid$533K aid approved$188K to the Borough of Manville for repairs299 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$935K to the Borough of Manville for repairs278 flood claims paid for it, $11.0M
Somerset County has had 22 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 Manville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Manville archive →Manville and its neighbors
Manville is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 196 |
| Franklin Township | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 188 |
| Bridgewater Township | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 225 |
| Manville | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 1,676 |
| Finderne | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Zarephath | — | 17 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Weston | — | 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 Manville 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.
- 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.
- Manville 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 Manville
Is Manville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Manville has higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #399 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and earthquakes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Manville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,676 claims in Manville since 1978, $72.4M in all, or 361.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 290 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (452).
Is Manville 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 Somerset County, 53% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Manville?
Manville 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 Manville?
By FEMA money that reached Manville, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 1,329 households applied for aid, $8.9M approved, and $1.4M to the Borough of Manville for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 452 paid, $24.6M.
Is Manville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Manville’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Manville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Manville’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.