Paulison-Christie House · Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Ridgefield Park faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ridgefield Park gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns, #208 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 202 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 Ridgefield Park’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Ridgefield 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
Hurricanes
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 Ridgefield Park’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ridgefield Park, and Ridgefield Park’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 6% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #208 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Ridgefield Park’s residents live in 3 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, Ridgefield Park has less expected damage per building than 56% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.1M a year in losses across Ridgefield Park: $2.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ridgefield Park flood? Yes: 202 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ridgefield Park, from FEMA’s records: 37.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy81 claims · $2.2M
- Hurricane Irene39 claims · $535K
- The December Storm - nor’easter16 claims · $115K
Ridgefield 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: Bergen County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Ridgefield Park
Disasters that paid out in Ridgefield Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Ridgefield Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida117 households applied for aid$228K aid approved$8K to the Village of Ridgefield Park for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $267K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$67K to the Village of Ridgefield Park for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$58K to the Village of Ridgefield Park for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy430 households applied for aid$481K aid approved$180K to the Village of Ridgefield Park for repairs81 flood claims paid for it, $2.2M
- 2011Severe Storm$41K to the Village of Ridgefield Park for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene72 households applied for aid$163K aid approved$41K to the Village of Ridgefield Park for repairs39 flood claims paid for it, $535K
Show all 10
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$44K to the Village of Ridgefield Park for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding7 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$30K to the Village of Ridgefield Park for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding32 households applied for aid$50K aid approved$15K to the Village of Ridgefield Park for repairs10 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$8K to the Village of Ridgefield Park for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
Bergen County has had 23 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 Ridgefield Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ridgefield Park archive →Ridgefield Park and its neighbors
Ridgefield Park 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leonia | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 20 |
| Teaneck Township | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 84 |
| Palisades Park | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Ridgefield Park | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 202 |
| Hackensack | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 416 |
| Bogota | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Ridgefield | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 106 |
| Little Ferry | D−more damage than 97% | coastal flooding | 1,192 |
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 Ridgefield 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.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- 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 Ridgefield Park
Is Ridgefield Park at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ridgefield Park has higher expected damage per building than 51% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #208 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ridgefield Park flood?
Flood insurance has paid 202 claims in Ridgefield Park since 1978, $3.5M in all, or 37.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 47 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (81).
Is Ridgefield 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 Bergen County, 41% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Ridgefield Park?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Ridgefield 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 Ridgefield Park?
By FEMA money that reached Ridgefield Park, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 430 households applied for aid, $481K approved, and $180K to the Village of Ridgefield Park for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 81 paid, $2.2M.
Is Ridgefield Park at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Ridgefield Park’s rate for it is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ridgefield Park.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ridgefield 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.