Photo: Freeholdman12 · CC BY 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Somerville than in 75% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Somerville gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns, #354 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 182 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 Somerville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Somerville 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
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 Somerville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Somerville, and Somerville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 6% (higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts).
C #354 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Somerville’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, Somerville has more expected damage per building than 76% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.9M a year in losses across Somerville: $4.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Somerville flood? Yes: 182 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Somerville, from FEMA’s records: 29.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene45 claims · $4.5M
- Hurricane Floyd43 claims · $2.5M
- Hurricane Ida37 claims · $7.0M
Somerville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Somerset County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Somerville
Disasters that paid out in Somerville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Somerville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida870 households applied for aid$3.7M aid approved$2.2M to the Borough of Somerville for repairs37 flood claims paid for it, $7.0M
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$7K to the Borough of Somerville for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$29K to the Borough of Somerville for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy192 households applied for aid$25K aid approved$224K to the Borough of Somerville for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene240 households applied for aid$411K aid approved$162K to the Borough of Somerville for repairs45 flood claims paid for it, $4.5M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$24K to the Borough of Somerville for repairs
Show all 9
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$5K aid approved$61K to the Borough of Somerville for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding10 households applied for aid$6K aid approved$19K to the Borough of Somerville for repairs20 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$77K to the Borough of Somerville for repairs43 flood claims paid for it, $2.5M
Somerset County has had 22 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 Somerville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Somerville archive →Somerville and its neighbors
Somerville is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 196 |
| Bridgewater Township | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 225 |
| Raritan | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Somerville | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 182 |
| Finderne | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Bridgewater Center | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Somerville 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.
- 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 Somerville
Is Somerville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Somerville has higher expected damage per building than 75% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #354 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and earthquakes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Somerville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 182 claims in Somerville since 1978, $15.8M in all, or 29.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 27 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (45).
Is Somerville 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 Somerset County, 53% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Somerville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Somerville’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 Somerville?
By FEMA money that reached Somerville, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 870 households applied for aid, $3.7M approved, and $2.2M to the Borough of Somerville for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 45 paid, $4.5M.
Is Somerville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Somerville’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Somerville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Somerville’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.