Photo: Adam Moss from Tonawanda, New York, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Waldwick as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Waldwick gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #228 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 28 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 Waldwick 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 Waldwick’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Waldwick, and Waldwick’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 5% (higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #228 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Waldwick’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, Waldwick has less expected damage per building than 51% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.0M a year in losses across Waldwick: $2.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Waldwick flood? Sometimes: 28 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Waldwick, from FEMA’s records: 8.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene9 claims · $363K
- Hurricane Ida7 claims · $214K
- Hurricane Floyd7 claims · $97K
Waldwick 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 Waldwick
Disasters that paid out in Waldwick itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Waldwick), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida79 households applied for aid$242K aid approved7 flood claims paid for it, $214K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$8K to the Borough of Waldwick for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$48K to the Borough of Waldwick for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy63 households applied for aid$9K aid approved$226K to the Borough of Waldwick for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$83K to the Borough of Waldwick for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene34 households applied for aid$88K aid approved$47K to the Borough of Waldwick for repairs9 flood claims paid for it, $363K
Show all 10
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$34K to the Borough of Waldwick for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$29K to the Borough of Waldwick for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding33 households applied for aid$26K aid approved$17K to the Borough of Waldwick for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$30K to the Borough of Waldwick for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $97K
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 Waldwick after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Waldwick archive →Waldwick and its neighbors
Waldwick is 5th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyckoff Township | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Midland Park | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Allendale | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 42 |
| Saddle River | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 67 |
| Waldwick | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 28 |
| Ridgewood | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 345 |
| Ho-Ho-Kus | Dmore damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 38 |
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 Waldwick 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 Waldwick
Is Waldwick at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Waldwick has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #228 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%) and earthquakes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Waldwick flood?
Flood insurance has paid 28 claims in Waldwick since 1978, $702K in all, or 8.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 70% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (9).
Is Waldwick 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 Waldwick?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Waldwick’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 Waldwick?
By FEMA money that reached Waldwick, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 79 households applied for aid, $242K approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 9 paid, $363K.
Is Waldwick at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Waldwick’s rate for it is higher than 75% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Waldwick.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Waldwick’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.