Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Norwood than in 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Norwood gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #61 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 16 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 Norwood 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
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 Norwood’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Norwood, and Norwood’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 9% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #61 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Norwood’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New Jersey town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, Norwood has less expected damage per building than 87% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Norwood: $1.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Norwood flood? Sometimes: 16 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Norwood, from FEMA’s records: 8.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida4 claims · $117K
- Hurricane Floyd3 claims · $23K
- The April 2007 nor’easter1 claim · $5K
Norwood isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Bergen County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Norwood
Disasters that paid out in Norwood itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Norwood), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida53 households applied for aid$176K aid approved4 flood claims paid for it, $117K
- 2012Hurricane Sandy19 households applied for aid$147K to the Borough of Norwood for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$43K to the Borough of Norwood for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene8 households applied for aid$16K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $9K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$13K to the Borough of Norwood for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding5 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$35K to the Borough of Norwood for repairs
Show all 8
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding13 households applied for aid$9K aid approved$5K to the Borough of Norwood for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$12K to the Borough of Norwood for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $23K
Bergen County has had 23 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 Norwood after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Norwood archive →Norwood and its neighbors
Norwood is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Northvale | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 42 |
| Norwood | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Closter | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
| Harrington Park | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 19 |
| Rockleigh | — | 459 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Norwood 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.
- 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 Norwood
Is Norwood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Norwood has lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #61 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and earthquakes (9%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Norwood flood?
Flood insurance has paid 16 claims in Norwood since 1979, $300K in all, or 8.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (4).
Is Norwood 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 Bergen County, 41% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Norwood?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Norwood’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 Norwood?
By FEMA money that reached Norwood, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 53 households applied for aid, $176K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 4 paid, $117K.
Is Norwood at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Norwood’s rate for it is lower than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Norwood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Norwood’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.