Photo: Jrogers123 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Montclair Township’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 83% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Montclair Township gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, #51 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 223 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 Montclair Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Montclair 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
Hurricanes
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 Montclair Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Montclair Township, and Montclair Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #51 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Montclair Township’s residents live in 12 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, Montclair Township has less expected damage per building than 89% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.9M a year in losses across Montclair Township: $7.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Montclair Township flood? Yes: 223 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Montclair Township, from FEMA’s records: 13.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida58 claims · $1.6M
- Hurricane Irene48 claims · $418K
- Hurricane Floyd35 claims · $262K
Montclair 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 Montclair Township
Disasters that paid out in Montclair Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Montclair Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida500 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved$451K to Montclair Township for repairs58 flood claims paid for it, $1.6M
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$464K to Montclair Township for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$621K to Montclair Township for repairs11 flood claims paid that year
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$222K to Montclair Township for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy437 households applied for aid$36K aid approved$984K to Montclair Township for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$180K to Montclair Township for repairs
Show all 11
- 2011Hurricane Irene319 households applied for aid$458K aid approved$95K to Montclair Township for repairs48 flood claims paid for it, $418K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$65K to Montclair Township for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding21 households applied for aid$11K aid approved$131K to Montclair Township for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding84 households applied for aid$85K aid approved24 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$80K to Montclair Township for repairs35 flood claims paid for it, $262K
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 Montclair Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Montclair Township archive →Montclair Township and its neighbors
Montclair Township has the lowest expected damage per building of the 7 graded towns here. 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 |
| Clifton | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 125 |
| Glen Ridge | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| West Orange Township | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 185 |
| Cedar Grove Township | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Verona Township | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| Little Falls Township | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 1,657 |
| Upper Montclair | — | 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 Montclair 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Montclair Township
Is Montclair Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Montclair Township has lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #51 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Montclair Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 223 claims in Montclair Township since 1978, $3.2M in all, or 13.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 29 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (58).
Is Montclair 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 Montclair Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Montclair 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 Montclair Township?
By FEMA money that reached Montclair Township, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 500 households applied for aid, $1.3M approved, and $451K to Montclair Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 58 paid, $1.6M.
Is Montclair Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Montclair Township’s rate for it is lower than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Montclair Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Montclair 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.