Photo: Khurt · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Montgomery Township’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Montgomery Township gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #353 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 115 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 Montgomery Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Montgomery 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 Montgomery Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Montgomery Township, and Montgomery Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
C #353 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Montgomery 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, Montgomery Township has more expected damage per building than 75% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $14.6M a year in losses across Montgomery Township: $13.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Montgomery Township flood? Yes: 115 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Montgomery 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 Ida35 claims · $2.3M
- Hurricane Irene33 claims · $1.3M
- Hurricane Floyd17 claims · $461K
Montgomery 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: Somerset County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Montgomery Township
Disasters that paid out in Montgomery Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Montgomery Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida$2.6M to Montgomery Township for repairs35 flood claims paid for it, $2.3M
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$79K to Montgomery Township for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$173K to Montgomery Township for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$33K to Montgomery Township for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$214K to Montgomery Township for repairs33 flood claims paid for it, $1.3M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$139K to Montgomery Township for repairs
Show all 9
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$221K to Montgomery Township for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$23K to Montgomery Township for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$178K to Montgomery Township for repairs17 flood claims paid for it, $461K
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 Montgomery Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Montgomery Township archive →Montgomery Township and its neighbors
Montgomery Township is 5th of the 5 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 |
| Princeton | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 101 |
| Hopewell Township | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 69 |
| Montgomery Township | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 115 |
| Rocky Hill | — | 819 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| East Rocky Hill | — | 235 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Griggstown | — | 812 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Kingston | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Blackwells Mills | — | 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 Montgomery 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Montgomery Township
Is Montgomery Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Montgomery Township has higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #353 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Montgomery Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 115 claims in Montgomery Township since 1978, $4.4M in all, or 13.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 11 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (35).
Is Montgomery 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 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 Montgomery Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Montgomery 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 Montgomery Township?
By FEMA money that reached Montgomery Township, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): $2.6M to Montgomery Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 35 paid, $2.3M.
Is Montgomery Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Montgomery Township’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Montgomery Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Montgomery 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.