Photo: Ramose350 at English Wikipedia · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Passaic as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Passaic gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns, #197 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 140 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 Passaic’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Passaic 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 Passaic’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Passaic, and Passaic’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 7% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #197 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Passaic’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, Passaic has less expected damage per building than 58% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $12.6M a year in losses across Passaic: $8.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Passaic flood? Yes: 140 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Passaic, from FEMA’s records: 6.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene44 claims · $5.3M
- Hurricane Ida32 claims · $4.3M
- Hurricane Floyd15 claims · $1.1M
Passaic isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Passaic County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Passaic
Disasters that paid out in Passaic itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Passaic), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida817 households applied for aid$1.6M aid approved$3.5M to the City of Passaic for repairs32 flood claims paid for it, $4.3M
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$37K to the City of Passaic for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy1,068 households applied for aid$54K aid approved$503K to the City of Passaic for repairs13 flood claims paid for it, $2.6M
- 2011Severe Storm$177K to the City of Passaic for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene448 households applied for aid$710K aid approved$211K to the City of Passaic for repairs44 flood claims paid for it, $5.3M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$69K to the City of Passaic for repairs
Show all 9
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding12 households applied for aid$1K aid approved$106K to the City of Passaic for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding96 households applied for aid$103K aid approved$36K to the City of Passaic for repairs12 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$50K to the City of Passaic for repairs15 flood claims paid for it, $1.1M
Passaic County has had 21 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 Passaic after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Passaic archive →Passaic and its neighbors
Passaic is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clifton | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 125 |
| Passaic | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 140 |
| Garfield | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 307 |
| Rutherford | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 237 |
| Wallington | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 638 |
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 Passaic 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 Passaic
Is Passaic at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Passaic has higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #197 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and earthquakes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Passaic flood?
Flood insurance has paid 140 claims in Passaic since 1978, $16.5M in all, or 6.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 66% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 10 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (44).
Is Passaic 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 Passaic County, 48% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Passaic?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Passaic’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 Passaic?
By FEMA money that reached Passaic, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 817 households applied for aid, $1.6M approved, and $3.5M to the City of Passaic for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 44 paid, $5.3M.
Is Passaic at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Passaic’s rate for it is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Passaic.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Passaic’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.