Photo: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Westville faces more hazard damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Westville gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns, #294 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%), then coastal flooding (14%). Flood insurance has paid 61 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 Westville’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Westville 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
Coastal 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 Westville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Westville, and Westville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 14%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C #294 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Westville’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New Jersey town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, Westville has more expected damage per building than 63% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Westville: $955K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Westville flood? Sometimes: 61 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Westville, from FEMA’s records: 29.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The April 2007 nor’easter6 claims · $47K
- Hurricane Irene5 claims · $45K
- The December Storm - nor’easter5 claims · $10K
Westville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Gloucester County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Westville
Disasters that paid out in Westville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Westville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida32 households applied for aid$42K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy18 households applied for aid$41K aid approved2 flood claims paid for it, $109K
- 2011Hurricane Irene130 households applied for aid$112K aid approved5 flood claims paid for it, $45K
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$13K to the Borough of Westville for repairs
- 2009Snowstorm$12K to the Borough of Westville for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 8
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding28 households applied for aid$36K aid approved6 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
Gloucester County has had 20 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter 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 Westville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Westville archive →Westville and its neighbors
Westville is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deptford Township | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Bellmawr | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| West Deptford Township | Bless damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 103 |
| Philadelphia | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 1,177 |
| Gloucester City | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
| Westville | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| Brooklawn | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 21 |
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 Westville 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Westville
Is Westville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Westville has higher expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #294 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%) and coastal flooding (14%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Westville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 61 claims in Westville since 1979, $642K in all, or 29.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 88% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from April 2007 Nor'easter (6).
Is Westville 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 Gloucester County, 50% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Westville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Westville’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 Westville?
By FEMA money that reached Westville, Hurricane Irene (2011): 130 households applied for aid, $112K approved. By flood claims, April 2007 Nor'easter: 6 paid, $47K.
Is Westville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Westville’s rate for it is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Westville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Westville’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.