Photo: Freeholdman12 · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Spotswood than in 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Spotswood gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #350 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 37 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 Spotswood 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
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 Spotswood’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Spotswood, and Spotswood’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 4%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C #350 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Spotswood’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, Spotswood has more expected damage per building than 75% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.9M a year in losses across Spotswood: $2.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Spotswood flood? Sometimes: 37 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Spotswood, from FEMA’s records: 11.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene13 claims · $134K
- The March 2010 nor’easter1 claim · $1K
- Hurricane Ida1 claim · $4K
Spotswood isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Middlesex County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Spotswood
Disasters that paid out in Spotswood itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Spotswood), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida33 households applied for aid$61K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $4K
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$38K to the Borough of Spotswood for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy162 households applied for aid$32K aid approved$141K to the Borough of Spotswood for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene106 households applied for aid$223K aid approved$1.2M to the Borough of Spotswood for repairs13 flood claims paid for it, $134K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$20K to the Borough of Spotswood for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding16 households applied for aid$50K aid approved$9K to the Borough of Spotswood for repairs
Show all 7
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding6 households applied for aid$7K aid approved$3K to the Borough of Spotswood for repairs
Middlesex 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 Spotswood after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Spotswood archive →Spotswood and its neighbors
Spotswood is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Bridge Township | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 98 |
| East Brunswick Township | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 101 |
| Monroe Township | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 76 |
| Helmetta | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 83 |
| Spotswood | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 37 |
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 Spotswood 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.
- 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 Spotswood
Is Spotswood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Spotswood has higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #350 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Spotswood flood?
Flood insurance has paid 37 claims in Spotswood since 1978, $375K in all, or 11.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 76% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 3 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (13).
Is Spotswood 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 Middlesex County, 54% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Spotswood?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Spotswood’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 Spotswood?
By FEMA money that reached Spotswood, Hurricane Irene (2011): 106 households applied for aid, $223K approved, and $1.2M to the Borough of Spotswood for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 13 paid, $134K.
Is Spotswood at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Spotswood’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Spotswood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Spotswood’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.