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BHazard risk
Natural hazards in West Orange Township · FEMA

On FEMA’s figures, West Orange Township 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, West Orange Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #150 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 185 claims here since 1978.

River and rain flooding 88%Hurricanes 5%Earthquakes 4%

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

less than 60%of U.S. townsLess damageMoreExpected yearly damage per dollar of building, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade#150 of 468 in New Jersey
Hazard risk
B#150 of 468
in New Jersey · lower than 60% of U.S. towns
Main hazard
River and rain flooding
88% of expected building damage
Flood claims
185
paid since 1978 · $2.2M
Flooded more than once
13
properties
Disasters paid out here
12
of 24 declared for Essex County

What stands out about West Orange Township’s natural hazards

From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.

185 paid flood claims since 1978$2.2M in all; 13 properties flooded more than once.Remembers 202140 flood claims were paid for 2021 alone, the most of any year.
By hazard

What West Orange 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

88%of expected building damage
Above average · higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area
Smaller shares here
 Hurricanes Earthquakes Tornadoes Hail Strong wind Winter storms Ice storms Wildfire Cold waves Heat waves Landslides Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts heat waves at 9% of West Orange Township’s expected losses. Heat waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Hazard risk grade

What’s behind West Orange Township’s grade

River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in West Orange Township, and West Orange Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.

Where West Orange Township sits
West Orange Township
Least damageMiddleMost damage

B #150 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).

West Orange Township’s residents live in 9 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.

What drives the damage to buildings
River and rain flooding88%Hurricanes5%Earthquakes4%Everything else4%

The typical New Jersey town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, West Orange Township has less expected damage per building than 68% of New Jersey towns.

In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.4M a year in losses across West Orange Township: $8.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.

A firm figure. It combines 9 census tracts by where West Orange Township’s residents live. FEMA’s model is an average year for today’s buildings, not a record: the claims and disasters below are the record.

How TownRatings grades hazard risk →

Flood insurance claims

Does West Orange Township flood? Yes: 185 flood claims since 1978

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in West Orange Township, from FEMA’s records: 10.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.

Paid flood claims, by year
1978: 14 claims1979: 15 claims1980: 5 claims1981: 13 claims1982: 2 claims1983: 7 claims1984: 7 claims1985: 0 claims1986: 0 claims1987: 1 claim1988: 0 claims1989: 1 claim1990: 1 claim1991: 0 claims1992: 0 claims1993: 1 claim1994: 0 claims1995: 0 claims1996: 1 claim1997: 1 claim1998: 0 claims1999: 29 claims2000: 0 claims2001: 0 claims2002: 2 claims2003: 0 claims2004: 0 claims2005: 0 claims2006: 0 claims2007: 7 claims2008: 0 claims2009: 0 claims2010: 0 claims2011: 31 claims2012: 0 claims2013: 1 claim2014: 1 claim2015: 0 claims2016: 0 claims2017: 0 claims2018: 2 claims2019: 0 claims2020: 0 claims2021: 40 claims2022: 1 claim2023: 2 claims2024: 0 claims2025: 0 claims2026: 0 claims199920112021
19782026
Biggest named events
  • Hurricane Ida39 claims · $1.3M
  • Hurricane Irene31 claims · $285K
  • Hurricane Floyd28 claims · $205K
185
paid claims since 1978
$2.2M
paid to owners
13
homes flooded more than once
$12K
average claim
Homes that flooded again and again
FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0)Flooded 2+ times
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

West Orange 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.
Disasters

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money to West Orange Township

Disasters that paid out in West Orange Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to West Orange Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida844 households applied for aid$2.6M aid approved$751K to West Orange Township for repairs39 flood claims paid for it, $1.3M
  2. 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$333K to West Orange Township for repairs
  3. 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$678K to West Orange Township for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
  4. 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$205K to West Orange Township for repairs
  5. 2012Hurricane Sandy1,135 households applied for aid$136K aid approved$1.1M to West Orange Township for repairs
  6. 2011Severe Storm$416K to West Orange Township for repairs
Show all 12
  1. 2011Hurricane Irene395 households applied for aid$665K aid approved$176K to West Orange Township for repairs31 flood claims paid for it, $285K
  2. 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$112K to West Orange Township for repairs
  3. 2010Severe Storms and Flooding11 households applied for aid$11K aid approved$66K to West Orange Township for repairs
  4. 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding46 households applied for aid$32K aid approved$14K to West Orange Township for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
  5. 2005Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
  6. 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$73K to West Orange Township for repairs28 flood claims paid for it, $205K
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in West Orange TownshipEssex County only

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.

Were you here?

Old photos of West Orange Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the West Orange Township archive →
Next door

West Orange Township and its neighbors

West Orange Township is 4th of the 8 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.

City of Orange Township: hazard risk B−Montclair Township: hazard risk A−Livingston Township: hazard risk B+South Orange Village Township: hazard risk B−Essex Fells: hazard risk B+Verona Township: hazard risk C+Millburn Township: hazard risk C+City of Orange TownshipMontclair TownshipLivingston TownshipSouth Orange Village TownshipEssex FellsVerona TownshipMillburn TownshipWest Orange Township
Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth
TownHazard riskMostly (buildings)Flood claims
Montclair TownshipA−less damage than 83%river and rain flooding223
Essex FellsB+less damage than 72%river and rain flooding15
Livingston TownshipB+less damage than 66%river and rain flooding189
West Orange TownshipBless damage than 60%river and rain flooding185
South Orange Village TownshipB−more damage than 53%river and rain flooding35
City of Orange TownshipB−more damage than 54%river and rain flooding166
Verona TownshipC+more damage than 59%river and rain flooding59
Millburn TownshipC+more damage than 64%river and rain flooding303

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what West Orange 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.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in West Orange Township

Is West Orange Township at risk for natural disasters?

On FEMA’s National Risk Index, West Orange Township has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #150 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.

Does West Orange Township flood?

Flood insurance has paid 185 claims in West Orange Township since 1978, $2.2M in all, or 10.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 74% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 13 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (39).

Is West Orange 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 West Orange Township?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for West Orange 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 West Orange Township?

By FEMA money that reached West Orange Township, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 844 households applied for aid, $2.6M approved, and $751K to West Orange Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 39 paid, $1.3M.

Is West Orange Township at risk from river and rain flooding?

It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and West Orange Township’s rate for it is higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in West Orange Township.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where West Orange 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.