Photo: Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page, my Commons user talk page, or my English Wikipedia user talk page; I'll know about it a lot faster) · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Prospect Park than in 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Prospect Park gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, #342 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 1999.
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 Prospect Park 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 Prospect Park’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Prospect Park, and Prospect Park’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
C #342 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Prospect Park’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New Jersey town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, Prospect Park has more expected damage per building than 73% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Prospect Park: $871K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Prospect Park flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 1999
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Prospect Park, from FEMA’s records: 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $97K
- Hurricane Floyd1 claim · $7K
Prospect Park isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Passaic County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Prospect Park
Disasters that paid out in Prospect Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Prospect Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida70 households applied for aid$121K aid approved$3K to the Borough of Prospect Park for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$22K to the Borough of Prospect Park for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy203 households applied for aid$975 aid approved$60K to the Borough of Prospect Park for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$4K to the Borough of Prospect Park for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene84 households applied for aid$97K aid approved$15K to the Borough of Prospect Park for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $97K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$15K to the Borough of Prospect Park for repairs
Show all 9
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$15K aid approved$8K to the Borough of Prospect Park for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding8 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$3K to the Borough of Prospect Park for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $7K
Passaic 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 Prospect Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Prospect Park archive →Prospect Park and its neighbors
Prospect Park is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Haledon | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Paterson | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 1,078 |
| Prospect Park | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Hawthorne | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 241 |
| Haledon | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
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 Prospect Park 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 Prospect Park
Is Prospect Park at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Prospect Park has higher expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #342 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Prospect Park flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Prospect Park since 1999, $104K in all, or 0.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 80% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (1).
Is Prospect Park 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 Passaic County, 48% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Prospect Park?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Prospect Park’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 Prospect Park?
By FEMA money that reached Prospect Park, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 70 households applied for aid, $121K approved, and $3K to the Borough of Prospect Park for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 1 paid, $97K.
Is Prospect Park at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Prospect Park’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Prospect Park.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Prospect Park’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.