Photo: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Pennsauken Township’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 66% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pennsauken Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns, #120 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%). Flood insurance has paid 108 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 Pennsauken Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Pennsauken Township 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 Pennsauken Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Pennsauken Township, and Pennsauken Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 4%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #120 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Pennsauken Township’s residents live in 10 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, Pennsauken Township has less expected damage per building than 75% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.5M a year in losses across Pennsauken Township: $8.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Pennsauken Township flood? Yes: 108 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Pennsauken Township, from FEMA’s records: 7.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene10 claims · $37K
- The April 2007 nor’easter5 claims · $42K
- Hurricane Floyd2 claims · $4K
Pennsauken Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Camden County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Pennsauken Township
Disasters that paid out in Pennsauken Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Pennsauken Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$31K to Pennsauken Township for repairs
- 2015Severe Storm$143K to Pennsauken Township for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy190 households applied for aid$111K aid approved$73K to Pennsauken Township for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $6K
- 2011Hurricane Irene811 households applied for aid$658K aid approved$26K to Pennsauken Township for repairs10 flood claims paid for it, $37K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$25K to Pennsauken Township for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2009Snowstorm$36K to Pennsauken Township for repairs
Show all 8
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding234 households applied for aid$190K aid approved$154K to Pennsauken Township for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding297 households applied for aid$614K aid approved5 flood claims paid that year
Camden County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter 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 Pennsauken Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Pennsauken Township archive →Pennsauken Township and its neighbors
Pennsauken Township is 2nd of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merchantville | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Pennsauken Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 108 |
| Cherry Hill Township | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 115 |
| Philadelphia | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 1,177 |
| Collingswood | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Camden | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 321 |
| Maple Shade Township | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Cinnaminson Township | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 140 |
| Palmyra | D−more damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Cherry Hill Mall | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Golden Triangle | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Pennsauken Township 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 Pennsauken Township
Is Pennsauken Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pennsauken Township has lower expected damage per building than 66% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #120 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (79%) and earthquakes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Pennsauken Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 108 claims in Pennsauken Township since 1978, $852K in all, or 7.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 15 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (10).
Is Pennsauken Township 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 Camden County, 34% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Pennsauken Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Pennsauken Township’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 Pennsauken Township?
By FEMA money that reached Pennsauken Township, Hurricane Irene (2011): 811 households applied for aid, $658K approved, and $26K to Pennsauken Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 10 paid, $37K.
Is Pennsauken Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Pennsauken Township’s rate for it is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Pennsauken Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Pennsauken Township’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.