Photo: R. Merritt Lacey · Public domainFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Rochelle Park Township than in 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rochelle Park Township gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #374 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 838 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 Rochelle Park Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Rochelle Park Township 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 Rochelle Park Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rochelle Park Township, and Rochelle Park Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 6% (higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts).
C− #374 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Rochelle Park Township’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, Rochelle Park Township has more expected damage per building than 80% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.3M a year in losses across Rochelle Park Township: $2.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rochelle Park Township flood? Yes: 838 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rochelle Park Township, from FEMA’s records: 349.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene296 claims · $13.6M
- Hurricane Floyd182 claims · $5.8M
- The April 2007 nor’easter164 claims · $4.3M
Rochelle Park Township is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Bergen County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rochelle Park Township
Disasters that paid out in Rochelle Park Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Rochelle Park Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida279 households applied for aid$632K aid approved$156K to Rochelle Park Township for repairs155 flood claims paid for it, $7.3M
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$35K to Rochelle Park Township for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$43K to Rochelle Park Township for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$19K to Rochelle Park Township for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy62 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$202K to Rochelle Park Township for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2011Severe Storm$22K to Rochelle Park Township for repairs
Show all 11
- 2011Hurricane Irene395 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved$265K to Rochelle Park Township for repairs296 flood claims paid for it, $13.6M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$10K to Rochelle Park Township for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$20K to Rochelle Park Township for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding192 households applied for aid$331K aid approved$96K to Rochelle Park Township for repairs167 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$862K to Rochelle Park Township for repairs182 flood claims paid for it, $5.8M
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 Rochelle Park Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rochelle Park Township archive →Rochelle Park Township and its neighbors
Rochelle Park Township is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maywood | A−less damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 43 |
| Fair Lawn | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 291 |
| Paramus | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 140 |
| Saddle Brook Township | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 404 |
| Lodi | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 901 |
| Rochelle Park Township | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 838 |
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 Rochelle Park Township 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.
- Rochelle Park Township 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 Rochelle Park Township
Is Rochelle Park Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rochelle Park Township has higher expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #374 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and earthquakes (6%). 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 Rochelle Park Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 838 claims in Rochelle Park Township since 1979, $31.6M in all, or 349.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 172 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (296).
Is Rochelle Park Township 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 Rochelle Park Township?
Rochelle Park Township 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 Rochelle Park Township?
By FEMA money that reached Rochelle Park Township, Hurricane Irene (2011): 395 households applied for aid, $1.3M approved, and $265K to Rochelle Park Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 296 paid, $13.6M.
Is Rochelle Park Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Rochelle Park Township’s rate for it is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rochelle Park Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rochelle Park Township’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.