Photo: Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page, my Commons user talk page, or my English Wikipedia user talk page; I'll know about it a lot faster) · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Somerdale’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 84% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Somerdale gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns, #47 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%), then earthquakes (10%). Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 1992.
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 Somerdale 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 Somerdale’s grade
River and rain flooding is 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in Somerdale, and Somerdale’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 10% (higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #47 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Somerdale’s residents live in 2 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, Somerdale has less expected damage per building than 90% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Somerdale: $776K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Somerdale flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1992
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Somerdale, from FEMA’s records: 2.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The December Storm - nor’easter1 claim · $7K
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $5K
- The April 2007 nor’easter1 claim · $3K
Somerdale isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Camden County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Somerdale
Disasters that paid out in Somerdale itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Somerdale), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$21K to the Borough of Somerdale for repairs
- 2015Severe Storm$22K to the Borough of Somerdale for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy13 households applied for aid$12K aid approved$16K to the Borough of Somerdale for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene67 households applied for aid$69K aid approved$4K to the Borough of Somerdale for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $5K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$9K to the Borough of Somerdale for repairs
- 2009Snowstorm$13K to the Borough of Somerdale for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 8
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding10 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$17K to the Borough of Somerdale for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding16 households applied for aid$45K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
Camden County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter 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 Somerdale after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Somerdale archive →Somerdale and its neighbors
Somerdale is 6th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magnolia | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Voorhees Township | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Lawnside | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Gloucester Township | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Stratford | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Somerdale | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Lindenwold | A−less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Echelon | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Hi-Nella | — | 855 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.
Get ready for what Somerdale 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Somerdale
Is Somerdale at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Somerdale has lower expected damage per building than 84% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #47 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%) and earthquakes (10%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Somerdale flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Somerdale since 1992, $34K in all, or 2.9 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 53% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from December Storm - Nor'easter (1).
Is Somerdale 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 Camden County, 34% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Somerdale?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Somerdale’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 Somerdale?
By FEMA money that reached Somerdale, Hurricane Irene (2011): 67 households applied for aid, $69K approved, and $4K to the Borough of Somerdale for repairs. By flood claims, December Storm - Nor'easter: 1 paid, $7K.
Is Somerdale at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and Somerdale’s rate for it is lower than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Somerdale.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Somerdale’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.