William and Margaret Mecum House · Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Pennsville Township’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 92% of U.S. towns, mostly from coastal flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pennsville Township gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns, #448 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is coastal flooding (64%), then river and rain flooding (27%). Flood insurance has paid 167 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 Pennsville Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Pennsville Township 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 Pennsville Township’s grade
Coastal flooding is 64% of the building damage FEMA expects in Pennsville Township, and Pennsville Township’s rate of coastal flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 3%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D #448 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Pennsville Township’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, Pennsville Township has more expected damage per building than 96% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.3M a year in losses across Pennsville Township: $9.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Pennsville Township flood? Yes: 167 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Pennsville Township, from FEMA’s records: 28.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy32 claims · $565K
- Hurricane Irene21 claims · $217K
- Hurricane Floyd15 claims · $90K
Pennsville Township is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Salem County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Pennsville Township
Disasters that paid out in Pennsville Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Pennsville Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$98K to Pennsville Township for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy35 households applied for aid$152K aid approved$50K to Pennsville Township for repairs32 flood claims paid for it, $565K
- 2011Hurricane Irene43 households applied for aid$92K aid approved$445K to Pennsville Township for repairs21 flood claims paid for it, $217K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$32K to Pennsville Township for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2009Snowstorm$28K to Pennsville Township for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
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 Pennsville Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Pennsville Township archive →Pennsville Township and its neighbors
Pennsville Township is 4th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mannington Township | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Wilmington | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 202 |
| Carneys Point Township | C−more damage than 83% | coastal flooding | 56 |
| Pennsville Township | Dmore damage than 92% | coastal flooding | 167 |
| Salem | Dmore damage than 95% | coastal flooding | 18 |
| Elsinboro Township | Dmore damage than 95% | coastal flooding | 32 |
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 Pennsville 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.
- 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.
- Pennsville Township residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Pennsville Township
Is Pennsville Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Pennsville Township has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #448 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is coastal flooding (64%) and river and rain flooding (27%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Pennsville Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 167 claims in Pennsville Township since 1978, $1.6M in all, or 28.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 18 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (32).
Is Pennsville 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 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 Pennsville Township?
Pennsville Township is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Pennsville Township?
By FEMA money that reached Pennsville Township, Hurricane Irene (2011): 43 households applied for aid, $92K approved, and $445K to Pennsville Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 32 paid, $565K.
Is Pennsville Township at risk from coastal flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (64%), and Pennsville Township’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Pennsville Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Pennsville 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.