Photo: Alansohn · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Oradell as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oradell gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #154 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). Flood insurance has paid 28 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 Oradell 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 Oradell’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Oradell, and Oradell’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 8% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
B #154 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Oradell’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, Oradell has less expected damage per building than 67% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.7M a year in losses across Oradell: $2.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Oradell flood? Sometimes: 28 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Oradell, from FEMA’s records: 10.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida7 claims · $224K
- Hurricane Irene6 claims · $279K
- Hurricane Floyd3 claims · $33K
Oradell 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.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Oradell
Disasters that paid out in Oradell itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Oradell), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida88 households applied for aid$340K aid approved$77K to the Borough of Oradell for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $224K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$164K to the Borough of Oradell for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$33K to the Borough of Oradell for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy50 households applied for aid$252K to the Borough of Oradell for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$112K to the Borough of Oradell for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene46 households applied for aid$93K aid approved$67K to the Borough of Oradell for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $279K
Show all 10
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$26K to the Borough of Oradell for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding16 households applied for aid$12K aid approved$86K to the Borough of Oradell for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding99 households applied for aid$110K aid approved$102K to the Borough of Oradell for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$38K to the Borough of Oradell for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $33K
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 Oradell after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Oradell archive →Oradell and its neighbors
Oradell is 3rd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haworth | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Emerson | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| Oradell | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 28 |
| Paramus | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 140 |
| New Milford | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 753 |
| River Edge | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 84 |
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 Oradell 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 Oradell
Is Oradell at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Oradell has lower expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #154 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and earthquakes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Oradell flood?
Flood insurance has paid 28 claims in Oradell since 1979, $651K in all, or 10.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (7).
Is Oradell 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 Oradell?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Oradell’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 Oradell?
By FEMA money that reached Oradell, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 88 households applied for aid, $340K approved, and $77K to the Borough of Oradell for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 7 paid, $224K.
Is Oradell at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Oradell’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Oradell.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Oradell’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.