Photo: Mwanner · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Elizabethtown than in 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elizabethtown gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 26 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 Elizabethtown’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Elizabethtown 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 Elizabethtown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Elizabethtown, and Elizabethtown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
C higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Elizabethtown’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Elizabethtown: $887K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Elizabethtown flood? Sometimes: 26 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Elizabethtown, from FEMA’s records: 31.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene4 claims · $132K
- The December nor’easter1 claim · $31K
Elizabethtown isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Essex County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Elizabethtown
Disasters that paid out in Elizabethtown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Elizabethtown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Tornadoes, and Flooding$2.4M to the Town of Elizabethtown for repairs
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$40K to the Town of Elizabethtown for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$8K to the Town of Elizabethtown for repairs
- 2013Severe Storms and Flooding$137K to the Town of Elizabethtown for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene42 households applied for aid$184K aid approved$129K to the Town of Elizabethtown for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $132K
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$37K to the Town of Elizabethtown for repairs
Show all 7
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$2K to the Town of Elizabethtown for repairs
Essex County has had 19 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 Elizabethtown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Elizabethtown archive →Elizabethtown and its neighbors
Elizabethtown is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moriah | Bless damage than 59% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Keene | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 32 |
| Lewis | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Elizabethtown | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Westport | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Jay | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 166 |
| North Hudson | — | 208 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Elizabethtown 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Elizabethtown
Is Elizabethtown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elizabethtown has higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Elizabethtown flood?
Flood insurance has paid 26 claims in Elizabethtown since 1978, $329K in all, or 31.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (4).
Is Elizabethtown 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 Essex County, 0.7% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Elizabethtown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Elizabethtown’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 Elizabethtown?
By FEMA money that reached Elizabethtown, Severe Storm, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2024): $2.4M to the Town of Elizabethtown for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 4 paid, $132K.
Is Elizabethtown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Elizabethtown’s rate for it is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Elizabethtown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Elizabethtown’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.