Photo: Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page, my Commons user talk page, or my English Wikipedia user talk page; I'll know about it a lot faster) · CC BY-SA 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Woodbury Heights than in 88% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Woodbury Heights gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns, #34 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%), then earthquakes (11%). Flood insurance has paid 3 claims here since 2009.
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 Woodbury Heights 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
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 Woodbury Heights’ grade
River and rain flooding is 70% of the building damage FEMA expects in Woodbury Heights, and Woodbury Heights’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 78% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 7%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
A #34 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Woodbury Heights’ 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, Woodbury Heights has less expected damage per building than 93% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $793K a year in losses across Woodbury Heights: $596K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Woodbury Heights flood? Rarely: 3 flood claims since 2009
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Woodbury Heights, from FEMA’s records: 2.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 54% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Woodbury Heights 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 Woodbury Heights
Disasters that paid out in Woodbury Heights itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Woodbury Heights), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida53 households applied for aid$16K aid approved$93K to the Borough of Woodbury Heights for repairs
- 2015Severe Storm$48K to the Borough of Woodbury Heights for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy3 households applied for aid$416 aid approved$12K to the Borough of Woodbury Heights for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene21 households applied for aid$29K aid approved$10K to the Borough of Woodbury Heights for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$14K to the Borough of Woodbury Heights for repairs
Show all 8
- 2009Snowstorm$19K to the Borough of Woodbury Heights for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding6 households applied for aid$8K 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 Woodbury Heights after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Woodbury Heights archive →Woodbury Heights and its neighbors
Woodbury Heights is 2nd of the 3 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 |
| Woodbury Heights | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Woodbury | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Oak Valley | — | 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 Woodbury Heights 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.
- 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 Woodbury Heights
Is Woodbury Heights at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Woodbury Heights has lower expected damage per building than 88% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #34 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (70%) and earthquakes (11%). 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 Woodbury Heights flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3 claims in Woodbury Heights since 2009, $118K in all, or 2.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 54% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Woodbury Heights 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 Woodbury Heights?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Woodbury Heights’ 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 Woodbury Heights?
By FEMA money that reached Woodbury Heights, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (2021): 53 households applied for aid, $16K approved, and $93K to the Borough of Woodbury Heights for repairs.
Is Woodbury Heights at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (70%), and Woodbury Heights’ rate for it is lower than 78% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Woodbury Heights.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Woodbury Heights’ 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.