Photo: Zeete · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Rockaway than in 77% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rockaway gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, #362 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 73 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 Rockaway 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 Rockaway’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rockaway, and Rockaway’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #362 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Rockaway’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, Rockaway has more expected damage per building than 77% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.1M a year in losses across Rockaway: $2.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rockaway flood? Sometimes: 73 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rockaway, from FEMA’s records: 26.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene31 claims · $1.0M
- Hurricane Floyd18 claims · $244K
Rockaway isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Morris County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rockaway
Disasters that paid out in Rockaway itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Rockaway), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida50 households applied for aid$73K aid approved
- 2021Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$50K to the Borough of Rockaway for repairs
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$32K to the Borough of Rockaway for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$32K to the Borough of Rockaway for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy244 households applied for aid$35K aid approved$98K to the Borough of Rockaway for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$13K to the Borough of Rockaway for repairs
Show all 12
- 2011Hurricane Irene197 households applied for aid$480K aid approved$25K to the Borough of Rockaway for repairs31 flood claims paid for it, $1.0M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$22K to the Borough of Rockaway for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding7 households applied for aid$6K aid approved$2K to the Borough of Rockaway for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding7 households applied for aid$16K aid approved
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$424 aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$4K to the Borough of Rockaway for repairs18 flood claims paid for it, $244K
Morris County has had 25 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 Rockaway after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rockaway archive →Rockaway and its neighbors
Rockaway is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockaway Township | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 53 |
| Denville Township | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 778 |
| Rockaway | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 73 |
| White Meadow Lake | — | 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 Rockaway 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 Rockaway
Is Rockaway at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rockaway has higher expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #362 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). 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 Rockaway flood?
Flood insurance has paid 73 claims in Rockaway since 1978, $1.5M in all, or 26.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (31).
Is Rockaway 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 Morris County, 1.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Rockaway?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rockaway’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 Rockaway?
By FEMA money that reached Rockaway, Hurricane Irene (2011): 197 households applied for aid, $480K approved, and $25K to the Borough of Rockaway for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 31 paid, $1.0M.
Is Rockaway at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Rockaway’s rate for it is higher than 88% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rockaway.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rockaway’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.