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PARK RIDGE STATION, PARK RIDGE, BERGEN COUNTY, NJPhoto: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0
B+Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Park Ridge · FEMA

FEMA puts Park Ridge’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Park Ridge gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #109 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 14 claims here since 1979.

River and rain flooding 85%Hurricanes 7%Earthquakes 5%

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

less than 68%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#109 of 468 in New Jersey
Hazard risk
B+#109 of 468
in New Jersey · lower than 68% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
85% of expected building damage
Flood claims
14
paid since 1979 · $417K
Disasters paid out here
11
of 23 declared for Bergen County
By hazard

What Park Ridge 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

85%of expected building damage
About average · higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

7%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once every 7 years in the area
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Tornadoes Strong wind Winter storms Hail Wildfire Ice storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Park Ridge’s grade

River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Park Ridge, and Park Ridge’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts).

Where Park Ridge sits
Park Ridge
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B+ #109 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).

Park Ridge’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding85%Hurricanes7%Earthquakes5%Everything else3%

The typical New Jersey town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, Park Ridge has less expected damage per building than 77% of New Jersey towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.5M a year in losses across Park Ridge: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A small-area figure. Park Ridge covers 2 census tracts, combined by where residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Park Ridge flood? Sometimes: 14 flood claims since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Park Ridge, from FEMA’s records: 4.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1979: 1 claim1980: 0 claims1981: 0 claims1982: 0 claims1983: 0 claims1984: 0 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 0 claims1988: 0 claims1989: 0 claims1990: 0 claims1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 0 claims1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 0 claims1997: 0 claims1998: 0 claims1999: 0 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 0 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 2 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 1 claim2008: 1 claim2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 3 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 4 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 2 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims200520112021
19792026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Ida4 claims · $105K
  • Hurricane Irene3 claims · $119K
  • The April 2007 nor’easter1 claim · $983
14
paid claims since 1979
$417K
paid to owners
0
homes flooded more than once
$30K
average claim
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Park Ridge 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.
Disasters

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Park Ridge

Disasters that paid out in Park Ridge itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Park Ridge), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida41 households applied for aid$26K aid approved$540K to the Borough of Park Ridge for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $105K
  2. 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$168K to the Borough of Park Ridge for repairs
  3. 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$135K to the Borough of Park Ridge for repairs
  4. 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$51K to the Borough of Park Ridge for repairs
  5. 2012Hurricane Sandy21 households applied for aid$363K to the Borough of Park Ridge for repairs
  6. 2011Severe Storm$158K to the Borough of Park Ridge for repairs
Show all 11
  1. 2011Hurricane Irene12 households applied for aid$22K aid approved$180K to the Borough of Park Ridge for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $119K
  2. 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$30K to the Borough of Park Ridge for repairs
  3. 2010Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$5K aid approved$55K to the Borough of Park Ridge for repairs
  4. 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding28 households applied for aid$37K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
  5. 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$328K to the Borough of Park Ridge for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Park RidgeBergen County only

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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Park Ridge after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Park Ridge archive →
Next door

Park Ridge and its neighbors

Park Ridge is 3rd of the 5 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Woodcliff Lake: hazard risk ARiver Vale Township: hazard risk C+Montvale: hazard risk A−Hillsdale: hazard risk B−Woodcliff LakeRiver Vale TownshipMontvaleHillsdalePark Ridge
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
Woodcliff LakeAless damage than 91%river and rain flooding21
MontvaleA−less damage than 84%river and rain flooding10
Park RidgeB+less damage than 68%river and rain flooding14
HillsdaleB−less damage than 51%river and rain flooding341
River Vale TownshipC+more damage than 58%river and rain flooding112

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Park Ridge faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Hurricane season
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Park Ridge

Is Park Ridge at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Park Ridge has lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #109 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does Park Ridge flood?

Flood insurance has paid 14 claims in Park Ridge since 1979, $417K in all, or 4.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (4).

Is Park Ridge 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 Park Ridge?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Park Ridge’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 Park Ridge?

By FEMA money that reached Park Ridge, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 41 households applied for aid, $26K approved, and $540K to the Borough of Park Ridge for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 4 paid, $105K.

Is Park Ridge at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Park Ridge’s rate for it is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Park Ridge.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Park Ridge’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.