Photo: TimSPC at English Wikipedia · Public domainFor coastal flooding, Wood-Ridge’s building-damage rate is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wood-Ridge gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #190 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%), then coastal flooding (16%). Flood insurance has paid 42 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 stands out about Wood-Ridge’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Wood-Ridge 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
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 Wood-Ridge’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wood-Ridge, and Wood-Ridge’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 16%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #190 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wood-Ridge’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, Wood-Ridge has less expected damage per building than 60% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.6M a year in losses across Wood-Ridge: $2.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wood-Ridge flood? Sometimes: 42 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wood-Ridge, from FEMA’s records: 10.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy16 claims · $240K
- Hurricane Ida14 claims · $207K
- Hurricane Irene7 claims · $171K
Wood-Ridge 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.11 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Wood-Ridge
Disasters that paid out in Wood-Ridge itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Wood-Ridge), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida211 households applied for aid$1.0M aid approved$117K to the Borough of Wood-Ridge for repairs14 flood claims paid for it, $207K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$55K to the Borough of Wood-Ridge for repairs
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$41K to the Borough of Wood-Ridge for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$40K to the Borough of Wood-Ridge for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy77 households applied for aid$83K aid approved$375K to the Borough of Wood-Ridge for repairs16 flood claims paid for it, $240K
- 2011Severe Storm$50K to the Borough of Wood-Ridge for repairs
Show all 11
- 2011Hurricane Irene77 households applied for aid$114K aid approved$62K to the Borough of Wood-Ridge for repairs7 flood claims paid for it, $171K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$34K to the Borough of Wood-Ridge for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$973 aid approved$65K to the Borough of Wood-Ridge for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding53 households applied for aid$59K aid approved$16K to the Borough of Wood-Ridge for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$24K to the Borough of Wood-Ridge for repairs
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 Wood-Ridge after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wood-Ridge archive →Wood-Ridge and its neighbors
Wood-Ridge 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hasbrouck Heights | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Wood-Ridge | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 42 |
| South Hackensack Township | Dmore damage than 86% | coastal flooding | 45 |
| Wallington | Dmore damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 638 |
| Carlstadt | D−more damage than 97% | coastal flooding | 74 |
| Moonachie | D−among the highest damage | coastal flooding | 234 |
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 Wood-Ridge 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.
- 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 Wood-Ridge
Is Wood-Ridge at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wood-Ridge has lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #190 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and coastal flooding (16%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Wood-Ridge flood?
Flood insurance has paid 42 claims in Wood-Ridge since 1978, $637K in all, or 10.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 75% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 11 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (16).
Is Wood-Ridge 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 Wood-Ridge?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wood-Ridge’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 Wood-Ridge?
By FEMA money that reached Wood-Ridge, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 211 households applied for aid, $1.0M approved, and $117K to the Borough of Wood-Ridge for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 16 paid, $240K.
Is Wood-Ridge at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Wood-Ridge’s rate for it is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wood-Ridge.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wood-Ridge’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.