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Flickr - Nicholas T - EdgedPhoto: Nicholas A. Tonelli from Pennsylvania, USA · CC BY 2.0
C−Hazard risk
Natural hazards in Sandyston Township · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, Sandyston Township faces more hazard damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sandyston Township gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2005.

River and rain flooding 85%Strong wind 9%Earthquakes 2%

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

more than 76%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade
Hazard risk
C−
in New Jersey · higher than 76% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
85% of expected building damage
Flood claims
3
paid since 2005 · $210K
Flooded more than once
1
properties
Disasters paid out here
7
of 20 declared for Sussex County
By hazard

What Sandyston 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

85%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Strong wind

9%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 5 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Earthquakes Tornadoes Hurricanes Landslides top 1% Wildfire Winter storms Ice storms Lightning Hail Cold waves Heat waves
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 15% of Sandyston Township’s expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind Sandyston Township’s grade

River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sandyston Township, and Sandyston Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 9%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.

Where Sandyston Township sits
Sandyston Township
Least damageMiddleMost damage

C− higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns (21,298).

All of Sandyston Township’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding85%Strong wind9%Everything else6%

In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.5M a year in losses across Sandyston Township: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

Shared tract.All of Sandyston Township’s 1,977 residents (2020 census) live in one census tract, which it shares with Layton CDP (692 residents) and Walpack township (7 residents). FEMA publishes its model by tract, so the rate and the hazard mix are the tract’s, the same for all of them. The flood claims below are the township’s own.
A shared figure. The grade describes the whole tract, not each street in it, and FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does Sandyston Township flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2005

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sandyston Township, from FEMA’s records: 3.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 51% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
2005: 1 claim2006: 1 claim2007: 0 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 1 claim2012: 0 claims2013: 0 claims2014: 0 claims2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 0 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 0 claims2022: 0 claims2023: 0 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims200520062011
20052026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Irene1 claim · $76K
  • The Torrential rain1 claim · $96K
3
paid claims since 2005
$210K
paid to owners
1
homes flooded more than once
$70K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Sandyston Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Sussex County.
Disasters

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Sandyston Township

Disasters that paid out in Sandyston Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Sandyston Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2021Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$19K to Sandyston Township for repairs
  2. 2012Hurricane Sandy35 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$16K to Sandyston Township for repairs
  3. 2011Severe Storm$5K to Sandyston Township for repairs
  4. 2011Hurricane Irene29 households applied for aid$85K aid approved$117K to Sandyston Township for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $76K
  5. 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$4K to Sandyston Township for repairs
  6. 2006Severe Storms and Flooding$2K to Sandyston Township for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 7
  1. 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$9K to Sandyston Township for repairs
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Sandyston TownshipSussex County only

Sussex County has had 20 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.

Were you here?

Old photos of Sandyston Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Sandyston Township archive →
Next door

Sandyston Township and its neighbors

Sandyston Township is 4th of the 5 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

Delaware Township: hazard risk B+Frankford Township: hazard risk C+Montague Township: hazard risk C−Walpack Township: not gradedDingman Township: hazard risk A−Delaware TownshipFrankford TownshipMontague TownshipWalpack TownshipDingman TownshipSandyston Township
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
Dingman TownshipA−less damage than 76%river and rain flooding7
Delaware TownshipB+less damage than 74%river and rain flooding4
Frankford TownshipC+more damage than 57%river and rain flooding6
Sandyston TownshipC−more damage than 76%river and rain flooding3
Montague TownshipC−more damage than 81%river and rain flooding14
Walpack Township—4 residents; we grade 1,000+

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Sandyston 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.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
High winds
  • Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
  • Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
  • Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Sandyston Township

Is Sandyston Township at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sandyston Township has higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and strong wind (9%). 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 Sandyston Township flood?

Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Sandyston Township since 2005, $210K in all, or 3.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (1).

Is Sandyston 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 Sussex County, 36% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Sandyston Township?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sandyston Township’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 Sandyston Township?

By FEMA money that reached Sandyston Township, Hurricane Irene (2011): 29 households applied for aid, $85K approved, and $117K to Sandyston Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 1 paid, $76K.

Is Sandyston Township at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Sandyston Township’s rate for it is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sandyston Township.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sandyston 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.