Photo: Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page, my Commons user talk page, or my English Wikipedia user talk page; I'll know about it a lot faster) · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts New Hanover Township’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Hanover Township gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #31 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%). Flood insurance has paid 2 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 New Hanover 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
Earthquakes
Strong wind
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 New Hanover Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 64% of the building damage FEMA expects in New Hanover Township, and New Hanover Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 86% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 9%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
A #31 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
New Hanover Township’s residents live in 3 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 Hanover Township has less expected damage per building than 94% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.0M a year in losses across New Hanover Township: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does New Hanover Township flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in New Hanover Township, from FEMA’s records: 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 56% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
New Hanover 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: Burlington County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to New Hanover Township
Disasters that paid out in New Hanover Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to New Hanover Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$10K to New Hanover Township for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$9K to New Hanover Township for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$6K to New Hanover Township for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$39K to New Hanover Township for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$3K to New Hanover Township for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$4K to New Hanover Township for repairs
Show all 8
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$4K to New Hanover Township for repairs
- 2009Snowstorm$5K to New Hanover Township for repairs
Burlington County has had 22 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Burlington County, 2007–2007.
Old photos of New Hanover Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the New Hanover Township archive →New Hanover Township and its neighbors
New Hanover Township 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hanover Township | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| North Hanover Township | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Pemberton Township | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 87 |
| Plumsted Township | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Cookstown | — | 646 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| McGuire AFB | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Wrightstown | — | 448 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Fort Dix | — | 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 Hanover 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- 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 New Hanover Township
Is New Hanover Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, New Hanover Township has lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #31 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (64%) and earthquakes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does New Hanover Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in New Hanover Township since 1978, $889 in all, or 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 56% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is New Hanover 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 Burlington County, 55% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in New Hanover Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for New Hanover 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 New Hanover Township?
By FEMA money that reached New Hanover Township, Hurricane Sandy (2012): $39K to New Hanover Township for repairs.
Is New Hanover Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (64%), and New Hanover Township’s rate for it is lower than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in New Hanover Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where New Hanover 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.