Photo: Jared Kofsky/PlaceNJ.com · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Nutley Township than in 81% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Nutley Township gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns, #385 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 251 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 stands out about Nutley Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Nutley 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 Nutley Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Nutley Township, and Nutley Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #385 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Nutley Township’s residents live in 6 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, Nutley Township has more expected damage per building than 82% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.0M a year in losses across Nutley Township: $9.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Nutley Township flood? Yes: 251 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Nutley Township, from FEMA’s records: 20.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida67 claims · $4.1M
- Hurricane Irene55 claims · $900K
- Hurricane Floyd40 claims · $376K
Nutley 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: Essex County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Nutley Township
Disasters that paid out in Nutley Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Nutley Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida739 households applied for aid$2.2M aid approved$2.4M to Nutley Township for repairs67 flood claims paid for it, $4.1M
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$452K to Nutley Township for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$96K to Nutley Township for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy297 households applied for aid$66K aid approved$681K to Nutley Township for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storm$239K to Nutley Township for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene299 households applied for aid$366K aid approved$240K to Nutley Township for repairs55 flood claims paid for it, $900K
Show all 10
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$84K to Nutley Township for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$58K to Nutley Township for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding127 households applied for aid$109K aid approved$98K to Nutley Township for repairs24 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$139K to Nutley Township for repairs40 flood claims paid for it, $376K
Essex County has had 24 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 Nutley Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Nutley Township archive →Nutley Township and its neighbors
Nutley Township 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clifton | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 125 |
| Bloomfield Township | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 520 |
| Nutley Township | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 251 |
| Belleville Township | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 217 |
| Lyndhurst Township | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 452 |
| Brookdale | — | 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 Nutley 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 Nutley Township
Is Nutley Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Nutley Township has higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #385 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Nutley Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 251 claims in Nutley Township since 1978, $6.3M in all, or 20.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 26 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (67).
Is Nutley 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 Essex County, 50% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Nutley Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Nutley 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 Nutley Township?
By FEMA money that reached Nutley Township, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 739 households applied for aid, $2.2M approved, and $2.4M to Nutley Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 67 paid, $4.1M.
Is Nutley Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Nutley Township’s rate for it is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Nutley Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Nutley 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.