Photo: KForce at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Rahway than in 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rahway gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #307 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 887 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 Rahway’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Rahway 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 Rahway’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rahway, and Rahway’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 6% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
C #307 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Rahway’s residents live in 6 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, Rahway has more expected damage per building than 66% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.0M a year in losses across Rahway: $6.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rahway flood? Yes: 887 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rahway, from FEMA’s records: 68.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene242 claims · $8.5M
- Hurricane Ida174 claims · $9.2M
- Hurricane Floyd79 claims · $1.5M
Rahway is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Union County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rahway
Disasters that paid out in Rahway itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Rahway), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida954 households applied for aid$3.4M aid approved$1.4M to the City of Rahway for repairs174 flood claims paid for it, $9.2M
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$56K to the City of Rahway for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy1,916 households applied for aid$2.0M aid approved$2.3M to the City of Rahway for repairs67 flood claims paid for it, $4.0M
- 2011Severe Storm$208K to the City of Rahway for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene834 households applied for aid$2.0M aid approved$629K to the City of Rahway for repairs242 flood claims paid for it, $8.5M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$67K to the City of Rahway for repairs
Show all 9
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding56 households applied for aid$93K aid approved
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding98 households applied for aid$120K aid approved$42K to the City of Rahway for repairs69 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$3.4M to the City of Rahway for repairs79 flood claims paid for it, $1.5M
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 Rahway after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rahway archive →Rahway and its neighbors
Rahway is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linden | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 299 |
| Woodbridge Township | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 597 |
| Clark Township | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 114 |
| Rahway | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 887 |
| Colonia | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Avenel | — | 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 Rahway 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.
- Rahway residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Rahway
Is Rahway at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rahway has higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #307 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and earthquakes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Rahway flood?
Flood insurance has paid 887 claims in Rahway since 1978, $27.9M in all, or 68.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 129 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (242).
Is Rahway 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 Rahway?
Rahway is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% 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 Rahway?
By FEMA money that reached Rahway, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 954 households applied for aid, $3.4M approved, and $1.4M to the City of Rahway for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 242 paid, $8.5M.
Is Rahway at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Rahway’s rate for it is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rahway.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rahway’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.