Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Roselle faces less hazard damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Roselle gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns, #41 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%), then earthquakes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 371 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 Roselle’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Roselle 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
Hurricanes
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 Roselle’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Roselle, and Roselle’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 12% (higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts).
A #41 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Roselle’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, Roselle has less expected damage per building than 91% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.8M a year in losses across Roselle: $2.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Roselle flood? Yes: 371 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Roselle, from FEMA’s records: 42.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene64 claims · $607K
- Hurricane Ida54 claims · $908K
- The April 2007 nor’easter31 claims · $171K
Roselle is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Union County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Roselle
Disasters that paid out in Roselle itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Roselle), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida739 households applied for aid$2.5M aid approved$168K to the Borough of Roselle for repairs54 flood claims paid for it, $908K
- 2012Hurricane Sandy1,260 households applied for aid$247K aid approved$911K to the Borough of Roselle for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$55K to the Borough of Roselle for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene498 households applied for aid$953K aid approved$399K to the Borough of Roselle for repairs64 flood claims paid for it, $607K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$39K to the Borough of Roselle for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding56 households applied for aid$113K aid approved
Show all 8
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding123 households applied for aid$115K aid approved$51K to the Borough of Roselle for repairs34 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$38K to the Borough of Roselle for repairs21 flood claims paid for it, $197K
Union County has had 21 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 Roselle after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Roselle archive →Roselle and its neighbors
Roselle has the lowest expected damage per building of the 4 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roselle | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 371 |
| Linden | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 299 |
| Elizabeth | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 228 |
| Cranford Township | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 1,484 |
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 Roselle 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Roselle 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 Roselle
Is Roselle at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Roselle has lower expected damage per building than 85% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #41 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and earthquakes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Roselle flood?
Flood insurance has paid 371 claims in Roselle since 1978, $8.8M in all, or 42.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 91% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 46 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (64).
Is Roselle 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 Union County, 49% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Roselle?
Roselle 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 Roselle?
By FEMA money that reached Roselle, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 739 households applied for aid, $2.5M approved, and $168K to the Borough of Roselle for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 64 paid, $607K.
Is Roselle at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Roselle’s rate for it is lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Roselle.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Roselle’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.