Photo: State of New Jersey, Dept of Parks and Forestry · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Old Bridge Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Old Bridge Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns, #163 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%). Flood insurance has paid 98 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 Old Bridge Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Old Bridge 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 Old Bridge Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 74% of the building damage FEMA expects in Old Bridge Township, and Old Bridge Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 6%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
B #163 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Old Bridge Township’s residents live in 17 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, Old Bridge Township has less expected damage per building than 65% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $16.7M a year in losses across Old Bridge Township: $14.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Old Bridge Township flood? Sometimes: 98 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Old Bridge Township, from FEMA’s records: 3.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 53% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy43 claims · $3.6M
- Hurricane Irene19 claims · $642K
- The December Storm - nor’easter6 claims · $118K
Old Bridge 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: Middlesex County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Old Bridge Township
Disasters that paid out in Old Bridge Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Old Bridge Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida109 households applied for aid$103K aid approved$236K to Old Bridge Township for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$467K to Old Bridge Township for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy1,094 households applied for aid$666K aid approved$1.5M to Old Bridge Township for repairs43 flood claims paid for it, $3.6M
- 2011Severe Storm$9K to Old Bridge Township for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene243 households applied for aid$675K aid approved$185K to Old Bridge Township for repairs19 flood claims paid for it, $642K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$226K to Old Bridge Township for repairs
Show all 9
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding64 households applied for aid$125K aid approved$79K to Old Bridge Township for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding19 households applied for aid$14K aid approved$61K to Old Bridge Township for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$22K to Old Bridge Township for repairs
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 Old Bridge Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Old Bridge Township archive →Old Bridge Township and its neighbors
Old Bridge Township is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sayreville | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 324 |
| Old Bridge Township | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 98 |
| East Brunswick Township | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 101 |
| Monroe Township | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 76 |
| Aberdeen Township | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 55 |
| Matawan | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Spotswood | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 37 |
| Laurence Harbor | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Cliffwood Beach | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Madison Park | — | 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 Old Bridge 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 Old Bridge Township
Is Old Bridge Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Old Bridge Township has lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #163 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (74%) and earthquakes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Old Bridge Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 98 claims in Old Bridge Township since 1978, $4.7M in all, or 3.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 53% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 9 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (43).
Is Old Bridge 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 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 Old Bridge Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Old Bridge 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 Old Bridge Township?
By FEMA money that reached Old Bridge Township, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 1,094 households applied for aid, $666K approved, and $1.5M to Old Bridge Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 43 paid, $3.6M.
Is Old Bridge Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (74%), and Old Bridge Township’s rate for it is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Old Bridge Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Old Bridge 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.