FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Penns Grove than in 81% of U.S. towns, mostly from coastal flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Penns Grove gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns, #381 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is coastal flooding (63%), then river and rain flooding (24%). Flood insurance has paid 198 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 Penns Grove’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Penns Grove faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Coastal flooding
River and rain flooding
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 Penns Grove’s grade
Coastal flooding is 63% of the building damage FEMA expects in Penns Grove, and Penns Grove’s rate of coastal flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 5%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #381 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Penns Grove’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, Penns Grove has more expected damage per building than 81% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.0M a year in losses across Penns Grove: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Penns Grove flood? Yes: 198 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Penns Grove, from FEMA’s records: 103.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy47 claims · $2.7M
- Hurricane Irene15 claims · $231K
- Hurricane Floyd12 claims · $139K
Penns Grove isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Salem County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Penns Grove
Disasters that paid out in Penns Grove itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Penns Grove), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Hurricane Sandy208 households applied for aid$694K aid approved$3K to the Borough of Penns Grove for repairs47 flood claims paid for it, $2.7M
- 2011Hurricane Irene69 households applied for aid$64K aid approved15 flood claims paid for it, $231K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$6K to the Borough of Penns Grove for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Snowstorm$11K to the Borough of Penns Grove for repairs
Salem County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter 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 Penns Grove after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Penns Grove archive →Penns Grove and its neighbors
Penns Grove is 2nd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 202 |
| Penns Grove | C−more damage than 81% | coastal flooding | 198 |
| Carneys Point Township | C−more damage than 83% | coastal flooding | 56 |
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 Penns Grove faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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.
- 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 Penns Grove
Is Penns Grove at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Penns Grove has higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #381 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is coastal flooding (63%) and river and rain flooding (24%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Penns Grove flood?
Flood insurance has paid 198 claims in Penns Grove since 1978, $6.2M in all, or 103.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 24 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (47).
Is Penns Grove 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 Salem County, 39% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 7.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Penns Grove?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Penns Grove’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 Penns Grove?
By FEMA money that reached Penns Grove, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 208 households applied for aid, $694K approved, and $3K to the Borough of Penns Grove for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 47 paid, $2.7M.
Is Penns Grove at risk from coastal flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (63%), and Penns Grove’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Penns Grove.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Penns Grove’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.