Photo: Lalmeister · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Roseland 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, Roseland gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns, #197 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 24 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 Roseland 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 Roseland’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Roseland, and Roseland’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #197 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Roseland’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, Roseland has less expected damage per building than 58% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.3M a year in losses across Roseland: $2.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Roseland flood? Sometimes: 24 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Roseland, from FEMA’s records: 9.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd8 claims · $67K
- Hurricane Ida6 claims · $129K
- Hurricane Irene3 claims · $18K
Roseland isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Essex County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Roseland
Disasters that paid out in Roseland itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Roseland), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida72 households applied for aid$270K aid approved$262K to the Borough of Roseland for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $129K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$71K to the Borough of Roseland for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$217K to the Borough of Roseland for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$26K to the Borough of Roseland for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy44 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$192K to the Borough of Roseland for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$111K to the Borough of Roseland for repairs
Show all 11
- 2011Hurricane Irene39 households applied for aid$91K aid approved$124K to the Borough of Roseland for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $18K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$17K to the Borough of Roseland for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$735 aid approved$19K to the Borough of Roseland for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$4K to the Borough of Roseland for repairs
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$77K to the Borough of Roseland for repairs8 flood claims paid for it, $67K
Essex County has had 24 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 Roseland after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Roseland archive →Roseland and its neighbors
Roseland is 4th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essex Fells | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Livingston Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 189 |
| West Caldwell Township | B+less damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Roseland | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 24 |
| East Hanover Township | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 89 |
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 Roseland 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 Roseland
Is Roseland at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Roseland has higher expected damage per building than 50% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #197 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). 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 Roseland flood?
Flood insurance has paid 24 claims in Roseland since 1979, $318K in all, or 9.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (8).
Is Roseland 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 Essex County, 50% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Roseland?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Roseland’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 Roseland?
By FEMA money that reached Roseland, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 72 households applied for aid, $270K approved, and $262K to the Borough of Roseland for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 8 paid, $67K.
Is Roseland at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Roseland’s rate for it is higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Roseland.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Roseland’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.