Photo: J · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Ridgewood faces more hazard damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ridgewood gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #387 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 345 claims here since 1981.
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 Ridgewood’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Ridgewood 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 Ridgewood’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Ridgewood, and Ridgewood’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #387 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Ridgewood’s residents live in 5 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, Ridgewood has more expected damage per building than 83% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $12.7M a year in losses across Ridgewood: $11.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Ridgewood flood? Yes: 345 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Ridgewood, from FEMA’s records: 37.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene114 claims · $2.1M
- Hurricane Floyd114 claims · $2.3M
- Hurricane Ida48 claims · $1.3M
Ridgewood is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Bergen County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Ridgewood
Disasters that paid out in Ridgewood itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Ridgewood), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida233 households applied for aid$344K aid approved$2.8M to the Village of Ridgewood for repairs48 flood claims paid for it, $1.3M
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$323K to the Village of Ridgewood for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$223K to the Village of Ridgewood for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$140K to the Village of Ridgewood for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy135 households applied for aid$54K aid approved$1.4M to the Village of Ridgewood for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$305K to the Village of Ridgewood for repairs
Show all 11
- 2011Hurricane Irene150 households applied for aid$285K aid approved$916K to the Village of Ridgewood for repairs114 flood claims paid for it, $2.1M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$82K to the Village of Ridgewood for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding20 households applied for aid$20K aid approved$120K to the Village of Ridgewood for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding62 households applied for aid$53K aid approved$42K to the Village of Ridgewood for repairs19 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$379K to the Village of Ridgewood for repairs114 flood claims paid for it, $2.3M
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 Ridgewood after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Ridgewood archive →Ridgewood and its neighbors
Ridgewood is 8th of the 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyckoff Township | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Midland Park | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Washington Township | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 39 |
| Paramus | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 140 |
| Waldwick | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 28 |
| Glen Rock | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Hawthorne | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 241 |
| Ridgewood | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 345 |
| Ho-Ho-Kus | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
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 Ridgewood 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.
- Ridgewood residents get 20% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Ridgewood
Is Ridgewood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Ridgewood has higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #387 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Ridgewood flood?
Flood insurance has paid 345 claims in Ridgewood since 1981, $6.5M in all, or 37.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 90% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 33 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (114).
Is Ridgewood 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 Ridgewood?
Ridgewood is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6), which takes 20% 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 Ridgewood?
By FEMA money that reached Ridgewood, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 233 households applied for aid, $344K approved, and $2.8M to the Village of Ridgewood for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 114 paid, $2.1M.
Is Ridgewood at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Ridgewood’s rate for it is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Ridgewood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Ridgewood’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.