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 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Oaklyn than in 76% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oaklyn gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns, #73 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 1994.
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 Oaklyn 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 Oaklyn’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Oaklyn, and Oaklyn’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 9% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #73 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Oaklyn’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, Oaklyn has less expected damage per building than 85% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $708K a year in losses across Oaklyn: $490K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Oaklyn flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 1994
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Oaklyn, from FEMA’s records: 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Oaklyn isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Camden County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Oaklyn
Disasters that paid out in Oaklyn itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Oaklyn), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Hurricane Sandy21 households applied for aid$22K aid approved$16K to the Borough of Oaklyn for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene89 households applied for aid$85K aid approved$5K to the Borough of Oaklyn for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$11K to the Borough of Oaklyn for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2009Snowstorm$10K to the Borough of Oaklyn for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding38 households applied for aid$29K aid approved$6K to the Borough of Oaklyn for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding73 households applied for aid$157K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
Camden County has had 17 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.
Old photos of Oaklyn after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Oaklyn archive →Oaklyn and its neighbors
Oaklyn 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audubon | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Audubon Park | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Oaklyn | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Haddon Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Collingswood | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Westmont | — | 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 Oaklyn 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 Oaklyn
Is Oaklyn at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oaklyn has lower expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #73 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and earthquakes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Oaklyn flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Oaklyn since 1994, $71K in all, or 1.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Oaklyn 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 Camden County, 34% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Oaklyn?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Oaklyn’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 Oaklyn?
By FEMA money that reached Oaklyn, Severe Storms and Flooding (2004): 73 households applied for aid, $157K approved.
Is Oaklyn at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Oaklyn’s rate for it is lower than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Oaklyn.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Oaklyn’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.