Photo: Zeete · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Piscataway Township than in 81% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Piscataway Township gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns, #386 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 232 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 Piscataway Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Piscataway 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 Piscataway Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Piscataway Township, and Piscataway Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 4%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #386 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Piscataway Township’s residents live in 14 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, Piscataway Township has more expected damage per building than 82% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $26.9M a year in losses across Piscataway Township: $24.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Piscataway Township flood? Yes: 232 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Piscataway Township, from FEMA’s records: 12.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida68 claims · $7.4M
- Hurricane Irene49 claims · $1.9M
- The April 2007 nor’easter30 claims · $557K
Piscataway 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: Middlesex County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Piscataway Township
Disasters that paid out in Piscataway Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Piscataway Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida1,636 households applied for aid$6.3M aid approved$1.0M to Piscataway Township for repairs68 flood claims paid for it, $7.4M
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$133K to Piscataway Township for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy1,499 households applied for aid$267K aid approved$3.2M to Piscataway Township for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storm$154K to Piscataway Township for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene787 households applied for aid$2.1M aid approved$274K to Piscataway Township for repairs49 flood claims paid for it, $1.9M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$73K to Piscataway Township for repairs
Show all 9
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding43 households applied for aid$80K aid approved$18K to Piscataway Township for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding131 households applied for aid$139K aid approved$55K to Piscataway Township for repairs30 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$104K to Piscataway Township for repairs23 flood claims paid for it, $2.0M
Middlesex County has had 22 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 Piscataway Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Piscataway Township archive →Piscataway Township and its neighbors
Piscataway Township is 4th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edison Township | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 154 |
| Franklin Township | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 188 |
| South Plainfield | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 353 |
| Piscataway Township | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 232 |
| New Brunswick | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 82 |
| South Bound Brook | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 83 |
| Dunellen | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 362 |
| Middlesex | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 977 |
| Somerset | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Franklin Center | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Rutgers University-Livingston Campus | — | 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 Piscataway 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 Piscataway Township
Is Piscataway Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Piscataway Township has higher expected damage per building than 81% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #386 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and earthquakes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Piscataway Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 232 claims in Piscataway Township since 1979, $12.8M in all, or 12.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 78% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 42 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (68).
Is Piscataway 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 Middlesex County, 54% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Piscataway Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Piscataway 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 Piscataway Township?
By FEMA money that reached Piscataway Township, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 1,636 households applied for aid, $6.3M approved, and $1.0M to Piscataway Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 68 paid, $7.4M.
Is Piscataway Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Piscataway Township’s rate for it is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Piscataway Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Piscataway 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.