Summit Playhouse · Photo: Jim.henderson · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Summit as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Summit gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #181 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 61 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 Summit 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 Summit’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Summit, and Summit’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 6% (higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #181 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Summit’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, Summit has less expected damage per building than 61% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.2M a year in losses across Summit: $7.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Summit flood? Sometimes: 61 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Summit, from FEMA’s records: 6.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene9 claims · $158K
- Hurricane Ida8 claims · $365K
- Hurricane Floyd7 claims · $90K
Summit isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Union County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Summit
Disasters that paid out in Summit itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Summit), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida95 households applied for aid$244K aid approved8 flood claims paid for it, $365K
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$78K to the City of Summit for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy285 households applied for aid$27K aid approved$831K to the City of Summit for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$507K to the City of Summit for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene128 households applied for aid$286K aid approved$318K to the City of Summit for repairs9 flood claims paid for it, $158K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$100K to the City of Summit for repairs
Show all 9
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding10 households applied for aid$9K aid approved
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding5 households applied for aid$8K aid approved$18K to the City of Summit for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$40K to the City of Summit for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $90K
Union County has had 21 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 Summit after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Summit archive →Summit and its neighbors
Summit is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountainside | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Summit | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| Berkeley Heights Township | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 67 |
| Millburn Township | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 303 |
| Springfield Township | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 337 |
| Chatham | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| New Providence | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 65 |
| Short Hills | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Chatham Township | — | not graded yet | |
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 Summit 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 Summit
Is Summit at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Summit has lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #181 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and earthquakes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Summit flood?
Flood insurance has paid 61 claims in Summit since 1978, $833K in all, or 6.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (9).
Is Summit 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 Union County, 49% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Summit?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Summit’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 Summit?
By FEMA money that reached Summit, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 285 households applied for aid, $27K approved, and $831K to the City of Summit for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 9 paid, $158K.
Is Summit at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Summit’s rate for it is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Summit.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Summit’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.