Photo: Freeholdman12 · CC BY 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Westfield faces less hazard damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Westfield gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #97 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%). Flood insurance has paid 45 claims here since 1979.
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 Westfield’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Westfield 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 Westfield’s grade
River and rain flooding is 82% of the building damage FEMA expects in Westfield, and Westfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 8% (higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #97 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Westfield’s residents live in 5 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, Westfield has less expected damage per building than 79% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.9M a year in losses across Westfield: $7.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Westfield flood? Sometimes: 45 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Westfield, from FEMA’s records: 4.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida16 claims · $1.4M
- Hurricane Irene8 claims · $79K
- The 2025 July NYC Metro Area Flooding5 claims · $99K
Westfield 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.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Westfield
Disasters that paid out in Westfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Westfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida385 households applied for aid$1.8M aid approved$149K to the Town of Westfield for repairs16 flood claims paid for it, $1.4M
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$132K to the Town of Westfield for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy391 households applied for aid$19K aid approved$1.3M to the Town of Westfield for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$226K to the Town of Westfield for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene265 households applied for aid$365K aid approved$211K to the Town of Westfield for repairs8 flood claims paid for it, $79K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$84K to the Town of Westfield for repairs
Show all 9
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding13 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding19 households applied for aid$25K aid approved$12K to the Town of Westfield for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$47K to the Town of Westfield for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $78K
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 Westfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Westfield archive →Westfield and its neighbors
Westfield is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garwood | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 45 |
| Westfield | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 45 |
| Mountainside | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Cranford Township | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 1,484 |
| Springfield Township | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 337 |
| Scotch Plains Township | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 225 |
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 Westfield 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 Westfield
Is Westfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Westfield has lower expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #97 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (82%) and earthquakes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Westfield flood?
Flood insurance has paid 45 claims in Westfield since 1979, $1.8M in all, or 4.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 5 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (16).
Is Westfield 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 Westfield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Westfield’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 Westfield?
By FEMA money that reached Westfield, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 385 households applied for aid, $1.8M approved, and $149K to the Town of Westfield for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 16 paid, $1.4M.
Is Westfield at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (82%), and Westfield’s rate for it is higher than 51% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Westfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Westfield’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.