United States Post Office · Photo: KForce · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Metuchen faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Metuchen gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #174 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%). Flood insurance has paid 9 claims here since 1979.
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 Metuchen 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
Strong wind
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 Metuchen’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Metuchen, and Metuchen’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 6%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #174 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Metuchen’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, Metuchen has less expected damage per building than 63% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.5M a year in losses across Metuchen: $3.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Metuchen flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Metuchen, from FEMA’s records: 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene6 claims · $43K
- The 2025 July NYC Metro Area Flooding1 claim · $6K
Metuchen isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Middlesex County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Metuchen
Disasters that paid out in Metuchen itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Metuchen), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida175 households applied for aid$483K aid approved$57K to the Borough of Metuchen for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$38K to the Borough of Metuchen for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy255 households applied for aid$33K aid approved$183K to the Borough of Metuchen for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$57K to the Borough of Metuchen for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene244 households applied for aid$489K aid approved$94K to the Borough of Metuchen for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $43K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$15K to the Borough of Metuchen for repairs
Show all 9
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding32 households applied for aid$29K aid approved$63K to the Borough of Metuchen for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding48 households applied for aid$33K aid approved$17K to the Borough of Metuchen for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$25K to the Borough of Metuchen for repairs
Middlesex 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 Metuchen after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Metuchen archive →Get ready for what Metuchen 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.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- 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 Metuchen
Is Metuchen at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Metuchen has lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #174 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and earthquakes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Metuchen flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Metuchen since 1979, $52K in all, or 1.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (6).
Is Metuchen 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 Middlesex County, 54% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Metuchen?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Metuchen’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 Metuchen?
By FEMA money that reached Metuchen, Hurricane Irene (2011): 244 households applied for aid, $489K approved, and $94K to the Borough of Metuchen for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 6 paid, $43K.
Is Metuchen at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Metuchen’s rate for it is higher than 58% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Metuchen.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Metuchen’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.