Grace Episcopal Church · Photo: Zeete · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Plainfield than in 90% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Plainfield gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns, #436 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 961 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 Plainfield’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Plainfield 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 Plainfield’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Plainfield, and Plainfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D #436 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Plainfield’s residents live in 12 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, Plainfield has more expected damage per building than 93% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $23.7M a year in losses across Plainfield: $16.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Plainfield flood? Yes: 961 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Plainfield, from FEMA’s records: 57.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida210 claims · $4.8M
- The 2025 July NYC Metro Area Flooding169 claims · $4.6M
- Hurricane Irene155 claims · $1.4M
Plainfield isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Union County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Plainfield
Disasters that paid out in Plainfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Plainfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida929 households applied for aid$2.0M aid approved210 flood claims paid for it, $4.8M
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$114K to the City of Plainfield for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy3,095 households applied for aid$432K aid approved$929K to the City of Plainfield for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Storm$158K to the City of Plainfield for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene549 households applied for aid$761K aid approved$246K to the City of Plainfield for repairs155 flood claims paid for it, $1.4M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$57K to the City of Plainfield for repairs
Show all 9
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding55 households applied for aid$69K aid approved
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding44 households applied for aid$38K aid approved43 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$113K to the City of Plainfield for repairs150 flood claims paid for it, $1.0M
Union County has had 21 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 Plainfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Plainfield archive →Plainfield and its neighbors
Plainfield is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watchung | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| Green Brook Township | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 268 |
| Scotch Plains Township | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 225 |
| Dunellen | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 362 |
| Plainfield | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 961 |
| North Plainfield | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 523 |
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 Plainfield 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 Plainfield
Is Plainfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Plainfield has higher expected damage per building than 90% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #436 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Plainfield flood?
Flood insurance has paid 961 claims in Plainfield since 1979, $13.5M in all, or 57.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 176 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (210).
Is Plainfield 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 Union County, 49% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Plainfield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Plainfield’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 Plainfield?
By FEMA money that reached Plainfield, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 929 households applied for aid, $2.0M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 210 paid, $4.8M.
Is Plainfield at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Plainfield’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Plainfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Plainfield’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.