Photo: Alansohn · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in New Brunswick than in 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Brunswick gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, #400 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 82 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 New Brunswick 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
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 New Brunswick’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in New Brunswick, and New Brunswick’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 5%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #400 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
New Brunswick’s residents live in 11 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, New Brunswick has more expected damage per building than 85% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $23.1M a year in losses across New Brunswick: $20.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does New Brunswick flood? Sometimes: 82 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in New Brunswick, from FEMA’s records: 4.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida39 claims · $3.1M
- Hurricane Irene21 claims · $1.1M
- Hurricane Floyd3 claims · $121K
New Brunswick 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 New Brunswick
Disasters that paid out in New Brunswick itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of New Brunswick), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida520 households applied for aid$959K aid approved$169K to the City of New Brunswick for repairs39 flood claims paid for it, $3.1M
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$150K to the City of New Brunswick for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy1,156 households applied for aid$148K aid approved$1.5M to the City of New Brunswick for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $94K
- 2011Severe Storm$10K to the City of New Brunswick for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene255 households applied for aid$397K aid approved$307K to the City of New Brunswick for repairs21 flood claims paid for it, $1.1M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$72K to the City of New Brunswick for repairs
Show all 9
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding12 households applied for aid$13K aid approved$64K to the City of New Brunswick for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding39 households applied for aid$62K aid approved$71K to the City of New Brunswick for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$534K to the City of New Brunswick for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $121K
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 New Brunswick after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the New Brunswick archive →New Brunswick and its neighbors
New Brunswick is 7th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Brunswick Township | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Edison Township | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 154 |
| East Brunswick Township | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 101 |
| Franklin Township | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 188 |
| Highland Park | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 57 |
| Piscataway Township | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 232 |
| New Brunswick | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 82 |
| East Franklin | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Somerset | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Voorhees | — | 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 New Brunswick 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.
- 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 New Brunswick
Is New Brunswick at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Brunswick has higher expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #400 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and earthquakes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does New Brunswick flood?
Flood insurance has paid 82 claims in New Brunswick since 1979, $5.0M in all, or 4.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (39).
Is New Brunswick 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 New Brunswick?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for New Brunswick’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 New Brunswick?
By FEMA money that reached New Brunswick, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 1,156 households applied for aid, $148K approved, and $1.5M to the City of New Brunswick for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 39 paid, $3.1M.
Is New Brunswick at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and New Brunswick’s rate for it is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in New Brunswick.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where New Brunswick’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.