William Carlos Williams House · Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Rutherford faces more hazard damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rutherford gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, #393 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 237 claims here since 1984.
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 Rutherford’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Rutherford 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
Coastal 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 Rutherford’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rutherford, and Rutherford’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 5%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #393 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Rutherford’s residents live in 4 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, Rutherford has more expected damage per building than 84% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.6M a year in losses across Rutherford: $5.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rutherford flood? Yes: 237 flood claims since 1984
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rutherford, from FEMA’s records: 33.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene67 claims · $1.8M
- Hurricane Sandy51 claims · $1.9M
- The April 2007 nor’easter39 claims · $557K
Rutherford isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Bergen County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rutherford
Disasters that paid out in Rutherford itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Rutherford), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida294 households applied for aid$850K aid approved$185K to the Borough of Rutherford for repairs30 flood claims paid for it, $760K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$401K to the Borough of Rutherford for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$37K to the Borough of Rutherford for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$93K to the Borough of Rutherford for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy153 households applied for aid$130K aid approved$348K to the Borough of Rutherford for repairs51 flood claims paid for it, $1.9M
- 2011Severe Storm$98K to the Borough of Rutherford for repairs
Show all 12
- 2011Hurricane Irene205 households applied for aid$494K aid approved$182K to the Borough of Rutherford for repairs67 flood claims paid for it, $1.8M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$56K to the Borough of Rutherford for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding5 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$42K to the Borough of Rutherford for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding118 households applied for aid$93K aid approved$55K to the Borough of Rutherford for repairs40 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$176 aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$28K to the Borough of Rutherford for repairs29 flood claims paid for it, $491K
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 Rutherford after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rutherford archive →Rutherford and its neighbors
Rutherford is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clifton | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 125 |
| Passaic | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 140 |
| Rutherford | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 237 |
| Lyndhurst Township | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 452 |
| East Rutherford | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 236 |
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 Rutherford 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Rutherford
Is Rutherford at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rutherford has higher expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #393 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and coastal flooding (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Rutherford flood?
Flood insurance has paid 237 claims in Rutherford since 1984, $5.6M in all, or 33.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 55 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (67).
Is Rutherford 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 Rutherford?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Rutherford’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 Rutherford?
By FEMA money that reached Rutherford, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 294 households applied for aid, $850K approved, and $185K to the Borough of Rutherford for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 67 paid, $1.8M.
Is Rutherford at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Rutherford’s rate for it is in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rutherford.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rutherford’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.