Photo: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Morris Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Morris Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #147 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 58 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 stands out about Morris Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Morris 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 Morris Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Morris Township, and Morris Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
B #147 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Morris 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, Morris Township has less expected damage per building than 69% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.7M a year in losses across Morris Township: $7.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Morris Township flood? Sometimes: 58 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Morris Township, from FEMA’s records: 6.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene22 claims · $528K
- Hurricane Floyd6 claims · $100K
Morris 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: Morris County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Morris Township
Disasters that paid out in Morris Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Morris Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$235K to Morris Township for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$188K to Morris Township for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$675K to Morris Township for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$124K to Morris Township for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy1 households applied for aid$505K to Morris Township for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $484K
- 2011Severe Storm$325K to Morris Township for repairs
Show all 10
- 2011Hurricane Irene$245K to Morris Township for repairs22 flood claims paid for it, $528K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$48K to Morris Township for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$25K to Morris Township for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$58K to Morris Township for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $100K
Morris County has had 25 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 Morris Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Morris Township archive →Morris Township and its neighbors
Morris Township is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morris Plains | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Hanover Township | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 72 |
| Morris Township | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 58 |
| Harding Township | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Denville Township | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 778 |
| Parsippany-Troy Hills Township | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 542 |
| Cedar Knolls | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Whippany | — | 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 Morris 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 Morris Township
Is Morris Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Morris Township has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #147 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 Morris Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 58 claims in Morris Township since 1979, $1.4M in all, or 6.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (22).
Is Morris 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 Morris County, 1.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Morris Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Morris 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 Morris Township?
By FEMA money that reached Morris Township, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (2018): $675K to Morris Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 22 paid, $528K.
Is Morris Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Morris Township’s rate for it is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Morris Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Morris 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.