Photo: Soccera2g at English Wikipedia · Public domainFEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Verona Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Verona Township gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns, #257 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 59 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 Verona 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
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 Verona Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Verona Township, and Verona Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #257 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Verona Township’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, Verona Township has more expected damage per building than 55% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $4.4M a year in losses across Verona Township: $3.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Verona Township flood? Sometimes: 59 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Verona Township, from FEMA’s records: 9.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida19 claims · $495K
- Hurricane Floyd12 claims · $94K
- Hurricane Irene4 claims · $81K
Verona 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: Essex County.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Verona Township
Disasters that paid out in Verona Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Verona Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida174 households applied for aid$531K aid approved$351K to Verona Township for repairs19 flood claims paid for it, $495K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$159K to Verona Township for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$55K to Verona Township for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$67K to Verona Township for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy107 households applied for aid$6K aid approved$495K to Verona Township for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$513K to Verona Township for repairs
Show all 11
- 2011Hurricane Irene52 households applied for aid$89K aid approved$184K to Verona Township for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $81K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$65K to Verona Township for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding6 households applied for aid$1K aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$61K to Verona Township for repairs12 flood claims paid for it, $94K
Essex County has had 24 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 Verona Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Verona Township archive →Verona Township and its neighbors
Verona Township 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montclair Township | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 223 |
| Essex Fells | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| North Caldwell | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| West Orange Township | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 185 |
| Cedar Grove Township | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 23 |
| Verona Township | C+more damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
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 Verona 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.
- 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 Verona Township
Is Verona Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Verona Township has higher expected damage per building than 59% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #257 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Verona Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 59 claims in Verona Township since 1978, $932K in all, or 9.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 9 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (19).
Is Verona 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 Essex County, 50% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Verona Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Verona 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 Verona Township?
By FEMA money that reached Verona Township, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 174 households applied for aid, $531K approved, and $351K to Verona Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 19 paid, $495K.
Is Verona Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Verona Township’s rate for it is higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Verona Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Verona 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.