Photo: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Mount Arlington than in 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mount Arlington gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #17 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2000.
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 Mount Arlington 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
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 Mount Arlington’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Mount Arlington, and Mount Arlington’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts).
A #17 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Mount Arlington’s residents live in 2 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, Mount Arlington has less expected damage per building than 97% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Mount Arlington: $708K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Mount Arlington flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2000
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Mount Arlington, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Mount Arlington 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.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Mount Arlington
Disasters that paid out in Mount Arlington itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Mount Arlington), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$31K to the Borough of Mount Arlington for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$27K to the Borough of Mount Arlington for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$21K to the Borough of Mount Arlington for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy68 households applied for aid$73K to the Borough of Mount Arlington for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$11K to the Borough of Mount Arlington for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene11 households applied for aid$12K aid approved$12K to the Borough of Mount Arlington for repairs
Show all 11
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$16K to the Borough of Mount Arlington for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding1 households applied for aid$307 aid approved
- 2000Severe Storms, Flooding and Mudslides$7K to the Borough of Mount Arlington for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$26K to the Borough of Mount Arlington for repairs
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 Mount Arlington after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Mount Arlington archive →Mount Arlington and its neighbors
Mount Arlington has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Arlington | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Hopatcong | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Roxbury Township | A−less damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Jefferson Township | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 77 |
| Landing | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Ledgewood | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Lake Hopatcong | — | 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 Mount Arlington 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.
- 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 Mount Arlington
Is Mount Arlington at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mount Arlington has lower expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #17 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Mount Arlington flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Mount Arlington since 2000, $4K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Mount Arlington 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 Mount Arlington?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Mount Arlington’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 Mount Arlington?
By FEMA money that reached Mount Arlington, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 68 households applied for aid, $0 approved, and $73K to the Borough of Mount Arlington for repairs.
Is Mount Arlington at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Mount Arlington’s rate for it is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Mount Arlington.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Mount Arlington’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.