Photo: Luigi Novi · CC BY 4.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Union City as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Union City gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #171 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). Flood insurance has paid 8 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 Union City 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 Union City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Union City, and Union City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 74% of U.S. census tracts).
B #171 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Union City’s residents live in 18 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, Union City has less expected damage per building than 64% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.1M a year in losses across Union City: $6.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Union City flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Union City, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy2 claims · $16K
- Hurricane Ida2 claims · $38K
- The December Storm - nor’easter1 claim · $1K
Union City isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hudson County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Union City
Disasters that paid out in Union City itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Union City), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida492 households applied for aid$1.3M aid approved2 flood claims paid for it, $38K
- 2012Hurricane Sandy1,324 households applied for aid$77K aid approved2 flood claims paid for it, $16K
- 2011Hurricane Irene28 households applied for aid$23K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $7K
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding9 households applied for aid$4K aid approved
Hudson County has had 15 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 Union City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Union City archive →Union City and its neighbors
Union City 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union City | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| North Bergen Township | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 109 |
| Weehawken Township | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 90 |
| Jersey City | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 1,361 |
| West New York | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Hoboken | D−more damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 1,621 |
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 Union City 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 Union City
Is Union City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Union City has lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #171 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Union City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Union City since 1978, $74K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (2).
Is Union City 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 Hudson County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 3.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Union City?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Union City’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 Union City?
By FEMA money that reached Union City, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 492 households applied for aid, $1.3M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 2 paid, $16K.
Is Union City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Union City’s rate for it is higher than 65% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Union City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Union City’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.