Photo: Pvjoeb joe b · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Totowa as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Totowa gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #229 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 475 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 Totowa’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Totowa 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 Totowa’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Totowa, and Totowa’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 7% (higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #229 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Totowa’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, Totowa has less expected damage per building than 51% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.4M a year in losses across Totowa: $3.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Totowa flood? Yes: 475 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Totowa, from FEMA’s records: 119.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene208 claims · $3.8M
- Hurricane Floyd83 claims · $1.5M
- Hurricane Ida46 claims · $1.1M
Totowa isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Passaic County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Totowa
Disasters that paid out in Totowa itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Totowa), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida211 households applied for aid$550K aid approved$118K to the Borough of Totowa for repairs46 flood claims paid for it, $1.1M
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$122K to the Borough of Totowa for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy119 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$185K to the Borough of Totowa for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$33K to the Borough of Totowa for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene408 households applied for aid$1.0M aid approved$473K to the Borough of Totowa for repairs208 flood claims paid for it, $3.8M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$41K to the Borough of Totowa for repairs
Show all 10
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding19 households applied for aid$12K aid approved$97K to the Borough of Totowa for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding46 households applied for aid$34K aid approved$98K to the Borough of Totowa for repairs48 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding10 households applied for aid$10K aid approved6 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$56K to the Borough of Totowa for repairs83 flood claims paid for it, $1.5M
Passaic 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 Totowa after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Totowa archive →Totowa and its neighbors
Totowa has the lowest expected damage per building of the 6 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Totowa | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 475 |
| Paterson | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 1,078 |
| Woodland Park | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 572 |
| Wayne Township | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 5,568 |
| Little Falls Township | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 1,657 |
| Haledon | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Preakness | — | 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 Totowa 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 Totowa
Is Totowa at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Totowa has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #229 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%) and earthquakes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Totowa flood?
Flood insurance has paid 475 claims in Totowa since 1979, $7.7M in all, or 119.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 50 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (208).
Is Totowa 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 Passaic County, 48% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Totowa?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Totowa’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 Totowa?
By FEMA money that reached Totowa, Hurricane Irene (2011): 408 households applied for aid, $1.0M approved, and $473K to the Borough of Totowa for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 208 paid, $3.8M.
Is Totowa at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Totowa’s rate for it is higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Totowa.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Totowa’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.