Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Tenafly faces less hazard damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tenafly gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns, #70 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). Flood insurance has paid 47 claims here since 1979.
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 Tenafly’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Tenafly 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
Hurricanes
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 Tenafly’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Tenafly, and Tenafly’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 9% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #70 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Tenafly’s residents live in 3 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, Tenafly has less expected damage per building than 85% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.0M a year in losses across Tenafly: $3.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Tenafly flood? Sometimes: 47 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Tenafly, from FEMA’s records: 8.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida16 claims · $809K
- Hurricane Irene5 claims · $37K
- The April 2007 nor’easter4 claims · $22K
Tenafly isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Bergen County.12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Tenafly
Disasters that paid out in Tenafly itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Tenafly), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida340 households applied for aid$1.0M aid approved$2.3M to the Borough of Tenafly for repairs16 flood claims paid for it, $809K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$229K to the Borough of Tenafly for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$81K to the Borough of Tenafly for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$53K to the Borough of Tenafly for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy51 households applied for aid$14K aid approved$282K to the Borough of Tenafly for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$239K to the Borough of Tenafly for repairs
Show all 12
- 2011Hurricane Irene18 households applied for aid$30K aid approved$69K to the Borough of Tenafly for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $37K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$40K to the Borough of Tenafly for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding19 households applied for aid$9K aid approved$129K to the Borough of Tenafly for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding64 households applied for aid$63K aid approved$7K to the Borough of Tenafly for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$51K to the Borough of Tenafly for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
Bergen County has had 23 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 Tenafly after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Tenafly archive →Tenafly and its neighbors
Tenafly is 3rd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Englewood Cliffs | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Tenafly | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 47 |
| Cresskill | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 74 |
| Bergenfield | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 96 |
| Englewood | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 338 |
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 Tenafly 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.
- 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.
- 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 Tenafly
Is Tenafly at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Tenafly has lower expected damage per building than 77% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #70 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and hurricanes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Tenafly flood?
Flood insurance has paid 47 claims in Tenafly since 1979, $1.1M in all, or 8.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 71% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (16).
Is Tenafly 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 Bergen County, 41% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Tenafly?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Tenafly’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 Tenafly?
By FEMA money that reached Tenafly, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 340 households applied for aid, $1.0M approved, and $2.3M to the Borough of Tenafly for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 16 paid, $809K.
Is Tenafly at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Tenafly’s rate for it is lower than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Tenafly.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Tenafly’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.