Photo: Zeete · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Woodland Park than in 64% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Woodland Park gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #283 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 572 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 Woodland Park’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Woodland Park 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
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 Woodland Park’s grade
River and rain flooding is 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Woodland Park, and Woodland Park’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #283 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Woodland Park’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, Woodland Park has more expected damage per building than 60% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.8M a year in losses across Woodland Park: $2.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Woodland Park flood? Yes: 572 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Woodland Park, from FEMA’s records: 103.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene177 claims · $5.7M
- The April 2007 nor’easter80 claims · $983K
- The March 2010 nor’easter63 claims · $703K
Woodland Park is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Passaic County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Woodland Park
Disasters that paid out in Woodland Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Woodland Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida202 households applied for aid$376K aid approved$364K to the Borough of Woodland Park for repairs44 flood claims paid for it, $4.1M
- 2018Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$58K to the Borough of Woodland Park for repairs15 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy99 households applied for aid$602 aid approved$57K to the Borough of Woodland Park for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm$35K to the Borough of Woodland Park for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene408 households applied for aid$1.0M aid approved$2.1M to the Borough of Woodland Park for repairs177 flood claims paid for it, $5.7M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$34K to the Borough of Woodland Park for repairs
Show all 9
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding53 households applied for aid$32K aid approved$90K to the Borough of Woodland Park for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$114K to the Borough of Woodland Park for repairs81 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$156K to the Borough of Woodland Park for repairs50 flood claims paid for it, $875K
Passaic 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 Woodland Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Woodland Park archive →Woodland Park and its neighbors
Woodland Park is 4th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clifton | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 125 |
| Totowa | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 475 |
| Paterson | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 1,078 |
| Woodland Park | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 572 |
| Little Falls Township | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 1,657 |
| Great Notch | — | 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 Woodland Park 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.
- 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.
- Woodland Park residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Woodland Park
Is Woodland Park at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Woodland Park has higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #283 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Woodland Park flood?
Flood insurance has paid 572 claims in Woodland Park since 1978, $14.8M in all, or 103.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 115 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (177).
Is Woodland Park 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 Passaic County, 48% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Woodland Park?
Woodland Park is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% 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 Woodland Park?
By FEMA money that reached Woodland Park, Hurricane Irene (2011): 408 households applied for aid, $1.0M approved, and $2.1M to the Borough of Woodland Park for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 177 paid, $5.7M.
Is Woodland Park at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Woodland Park’s rate for it is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Woodland Park.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Woodland Park’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.