Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Palisades Park as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palisades Park gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #153 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 21 claims here since 1981.
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 Palisades Park 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
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 Palisades Park’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Palisades Park, and Palisades Park’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
B #153 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Palisades Park’s residents live in 4 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, Palisades Park has less expected damage per building than 67% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.5M a year in losses across Palisades Park: $2.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Palisades Park flood? Sometimes: 21 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Palisades Park, from FEMA’s records: 2.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 54% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2025 July NYC Metro Area Flooding2 claims · $604K
- The December Storm - nor’easter1 claim · $119K
- The Torrential rain1 claim · $298K
Palisades Park 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 Palisades Park
Disasters that paid out in Palisades Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Palisades Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida324 households applied for aid$958K aid approved$42K to the Borough of Palisades Park for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $490K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$93K to the Borough of Palisades Park for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$12K to the Borough of Palisades Park for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$66K to the Borough of Palisades Park for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy120 households applied for aid$210 aid approved$88K to the Borough of Palisades Park for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$8K to the Borough of Palisades Park for repairs
Show all 10
- 2011Hurricane Irene12 households applied for aid$31K aid approved$14K to the Borough of Palisades Park for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $831K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$47K to the Borough of Palisades Park for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding10 households applied for aid$14K aid approved$750 to the Borough of Palisades Park for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$263 aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
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 Palisades Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Palisades Park archive →Palisades Park and its neighbors
Palisades Park 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lee | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Leonia | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Palisades Park | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Ridgefield Park | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 202 |
| Ridgefield | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 106 |
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 Palisades Park 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.
- 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 Palisades Park
Is Palisades Park at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Palisades Park has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #153 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Palisades Park flood?
Flood insurance has paid 21 claims in Palisades Park since 1981, $5.5M in all, or 2.8 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 54% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from 2025 July NYC Metro Area Flooding (2).
Is Palisades Park 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 Palisades Park?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Palisades Park’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 Palisades Park?
By FEMA money that reached Palisades Park, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 324 households applied for aid, $958K approved, and $42K to the Borough of Palisades Park for repairs. By flood claims, 2025 July NYC Metro Area Flooding: 2 paid, $604K.
Is Palisades Park at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Palisades Park’s rate for it is higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Palisades Park.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Palisades Park’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.