Gov. William Liberty Hall (Livingston House) · Photo: Dmadeo · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Union Township than in 67% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Union Township gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns, #114 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%), then earthquakes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 361 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 stands out about Union Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Union Township 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
Hurricanes
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 Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 76% of the building damage FEMA expects in Union Township, and Union Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 13% (higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #114 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Union Township’s residents live in 13 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 Township has less expected damage per building than 76% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $13.2M a year in losses across Union Township: $9.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Union Township flood? Yes: 361 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Union Township, from FEMA’s records: 16.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida108 claims · $7.1M
- Hurricane Irene100 claims · $2.7M
- Hurricane Floyd41 claims · $633K
Union Township 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.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Union Township
Disasters that paid out in Union Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Union Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida1,666 households applied for aid$6.4M aid approved108 flood claims paid for it, $7.1M
- 2012Hurricane Sandy2,077 households applied for aid$179K aid approved
- 2011Hurricane Irene657 households applied for aid$1.5M aid approved100 flood claims paid for it, $2.7M
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding34 households applied for aid$50K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding163 households applied for aid$221K aid approved28 flood claims paid that year
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 Union Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Union Township archive →Union Township and its neighbors
Union Township is 5th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillside Township | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 199 |
| Elizabeth | B+less damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 228 |
| Kenilworth | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 154 |
| Maplewood Township | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 86 |
| Union Township | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 361 |
| Irvington Township | B−less damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 128 |
| Millburn Township | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 303 |
| Springfield Township | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 337 |
| Vauxhall | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Kean University | — | 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 Union Township 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.
- 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.
- 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 Township
Is Union Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Union Township has lower expected damage per building than 67% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #114 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (76%) and earthquakes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Union Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 361 claims in Union Township since 1978, $12.1M in all, or 16.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (108).
Is Union Township 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 Union Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Union Township’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 Township?
By FEMA money that reached Union Township, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 1,666 households applied for aid, $6.4M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 108 paid, $7.1M.
Is Union Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (76%), and Union Township’s rate for it is higher than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Union Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Union Township’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.