Hopper-Goetschius House · Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Upper Saddle River faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Upper Saddle River gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #175 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 35 claims here since 1983.
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 Upper Saddle River 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 Upper Saddle River’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Upper Saddle River, and Upper Saddle River’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 8% (higher than 73% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #175 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Upper Saddle River’s residents live in 2 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, Upper Saddle River has less expected damage per building than 63% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.7M a year in losses across Upper Saddle River: $3.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Upper Saddle River flood? Sometimes: 35 flood claims since 1983
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Upper Saddle River, from FEMA’s records: 12.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene6 claims · $54K
- Hurricane Ida4 claims · $208K
- Hurricane Floyd4 claims · $44K
Upper Saddle River 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.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Upper Saddle River
Disasters that paid out in Upper Saddle River itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Upper Saddle River), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida41 households applied for aid$123K aid approved$93K to the Borough of Upper Saddle River for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $208K
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$44K to the Borough of Upper Saddle River for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy66 households applied for aid$7K aid approved$203K to the Borough of Upper Saddle River for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $42K
- 2011Severe Storm$61K to the Borough of Upper Saddle River for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene42 households applied for aid$111K aid approved$123K to the Borough of Upper Saddle River for repairs6 flood claims paid for it, $54K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$21K to the Borough of Upper Saddle River for repairs
Show all 10
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$613 aid approved
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding12 households applied for aid$9K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$1K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$107K to the Borough of Upper Saddle River for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $44K
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 Upper Saddle River after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Upper Saddle River archive →Upper Saddle River and its neighbors
Upper Saddle River is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodcliff Lake | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Montvale | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Ramsey | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Mahwah Township | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 186 |
| Saddle River | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 67 |
| Upper Saddle River | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 35 |
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 Upper Saddle River 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 Upper Saddle River
Is Upper Saddle River at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Upper Saddle River has lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #175 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and earthquakes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Upper Saddle River flood?
Flood insurance has paid 35 claims in Upper Saddle River since 1983, $521K in all, or 12.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (6).
Is Upper Saddle River 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 Upper Saddle River?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Upper Saddle River’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 Upper Saddle River?
By FEMA money that reached Upper Saddle River, Hurricane Irene (2011): 42 households applied for aid, $111K approved, and $123K to the Borough of Upper Saddle River for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 6 paid, $54K.
Is Upper Saddle River at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Upper Saddle River’s rate for it is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Upper Saddle River.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Upper Saddle River’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.