Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0Woodbridge Township’s building-damage rate from coastal flooding is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Woodbridge Township gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #152 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%). Flood insurance has paid 597 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 Woodbridge Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Woodbridge 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
Earthquakes
Strong wind
Coastal flooding
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 Woodbridge Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Woodbridge Township, and Woodbridge Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 7%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
B #152 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Woodbridge Township’s residents live in 24 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, Woodbridge Township has less expected damage per building than 68% of New Jersey towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Woodbridge Township has lower expected damage per building than 72% (#114 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $23.4M, is the 375th largest of those 400.
Does Woodbridge Township flood? Yes: 597 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Woodbridge Township, from FEMA’s records: 15.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy166 claims · $7.8M
- Hurricane Irene122 claims · $3.6M
- Hurricane Ida74 claims · $5.2M
Woodbridge Township is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Middlesex County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Woodbridge Township
Disasters that paid out in Woodbridge Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Woodbridge Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida161 households applied for aid$362K aid approved$860K to Woodbridge Township for repairs74 flood claims paid for it, $5.2M
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$290K to Woodbridge Township for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy513 households applied for aid$575K aid approved$2.3M to Woodbridge Township for repairs166 flood claims paid for it, $7.8M
- 2011Severe Storm$609K to Woodbridge Township for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene323 households applied for aid$688K aid approved$522K to Woodbridge Township for repairs122 flood claims paid for it, $3.6M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$331K to Woodbridge Township for repairs
Show all 9
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding12 households applied for aid$4K aid approved$101K to Woodbridge Township for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding21 households applied for aid$10K aid approved$69K to Woodbridge Township for repairs16 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$116K to Woodbridge Township for repairs19 flood claims paid for it, $812K
Middlesex County has had 22 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 Woodbridge Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Woodbridge Township archive →Woodbridge Township and its neighbors
Woodbridge Township is 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perth Amboy | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 37 |
| Carteret | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 196 |
| Woodbridge Township | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 597 |
| Sayreville | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 324 |
| Edison Township | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 154 |
| Rahway | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 887 |
| Avenel | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Port Reading | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Sewaren | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Colonia | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Hopelawn | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Woodbridge 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.
- 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.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- 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.
- 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.
- Woodbridge Township residents get 25% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Woodbridge Township
Is Woodbridge Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Woodbridge Township has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #152 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and earthquakes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Woodbridge Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 597 claims in Woodbridge Township since 1978, $20.4M in all, or 15.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 50 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (166).
Is Woodbridge 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 Middlesex County, 54% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Woodbridge Township?
Woodbridge Township is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5), which takes 25% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Woodbridge Township?
By FEMA money that reached Woodbridge Township, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 513 households applied for aid, $575K approved, and $2.3M to Woodbridge Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 166 paid, $7.8M.
Is Woodbridge Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Woodbridge Township’s rate for it is higher than 54% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Woodbridge Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Woodbridge 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.