Photo: Zeete · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Phillipsburg faces more hazard damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Phillipsburg gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #432 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 59 claims here since 1979.
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 Phillipsburg’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Phillipsburg 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
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 Phillipsburg’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Phillipsburg, and Phillipsburg’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 2%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
D #432 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Phillipsburg’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, Phillipsburg has more expected damage per building than 92% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.7M a year in losses across Phillipsburg: $7.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Phillipsburg flood? Sometimes: 59 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Phillipsburg, from FEMA’s records: 8.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd1 claim · $6K
Phillipsburg isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Warren County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Phillipsburg
Disasters that paid out in Phillipsburg itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Phillipsburg), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storm and Flooding$687K to the Town of Phillipsburg for repairs
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida87 households applied for aid$92K aid approved
- 2021Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$177K to the Town of Phillipsburg for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$87K to the Town of Phillipsburg for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy189 households applied for aid$82K aid approved$122K to the Town of Phillipsburg for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$6K to the Town of Phillipsburg for repairs
Show all 10
- 2011Hurricane Irene126 households applied for aid$163K aid approved$136K to the Town of Phillipsburg for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding113 households applied for aid$132K aid approved$44K to the Town of Phillipsburg for repairs10 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding149 households applied for aid$370K aid approved9 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding133 households applied for aid$465K aid approved$100K to the Town of Phillipsburg for repairs10 flood claims paid that year
Warren County has had 19 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 Phillipsburg after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Phillipsburg archive →Phillipsburg and its neighbors
Phillipsburg is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williams Township | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 121 |
| Easton | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 233 |
| Pohatcong Township | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 147 |
| Lopatcong Township | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Phillipsburg | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| Upper Pohatcong | — | 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 Phillipsburg 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.
- 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 Phillipsburg
Is Phillipsburg at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Phillipsburg has higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #432 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Phillipsburg flood?
Flood insurance has paid 59 claims in Phillipsburg since 1979, $2.9M in all, or 8.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (1).
Is Phillipsburg 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 Warren County, 47% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Phillipsburg?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Phillipsburg’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 Phillipsburg?
By FEMA money that reached Phillipsburg, Severe Storm and Flooding (2023): $687K to the Town of Phillipsburg for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 1 paid, $6K.
Is Phillipsburg at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Phillipsburg’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Phillipsburg.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Phillipsburg’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.