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Natural hazards · Branchburg

Branchburg, NJ natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Branchburg comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 185 claims here since 1978. 10 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations
Expected damage

How exposed is Branchburg?

56
Moderate
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Branchburg to be higher than in 56% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding79%Everything else21%
By hazard

What Branchburg faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

79% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 76% of U.S. places
Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Flood insurance claims

Does Branchburg flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Branchburg, from FEMA’s records.

185paid claims since 1978
$12.0Mpaid to owners
29homes flooded more than once
19782026

Biggest named events

  • Hurricane Floyd: 34 claims, $2.2M
  • Hurricane Ida: 29 claims, $5.9M
  • Hurricane Irene: 27 claims, $2.0M

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (13) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured
of all homes
are insured
No community discount. Branchburg isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Somerset County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

9flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
1homes raised above flood level
Disasters that hit Branchburg

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Branchburg itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the Township of Branchburg.

Brought FEMA money into BranchburgDeclared for Somerset County only
2021

Remnants of Hurricane Ida

139 households applied for aid $528K aid approved $363K to the Township of Branchburg for repairs
2018

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$10K to the Township of Branchburg for repairs
2016

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$77K to the Township of Branchburg for repairs
2012

Hurricane Sandy

170 households applied for aid $7K aid approved $417K to the Township of Branchburg for repairs
2011

Severe Storm

$114K to the Township of Branchburg for repairs
2011

Hurricane Irene

116 households applied for aid $212K aid approved $90K to the Township of Branchburg for repairs
2010

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$22K to the Township of Branchburg for repairs
2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

7 households applied for aid $27K aid approved $33K to the Township of Branchburg for repairs
2007

Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding

5 households applied for aid $13K aid approved
1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$38K to the Township of Branchburg for repairs
Somerset County has had 23 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and hurricanes.
Around Branchburg

Branchburg and the towns around it

Hillsborough: Moderate, mostly inland floodingBridgewater: Moderate, mostly inland floodingBedminster: Moderate, mostly inland floodingReadington: Moderate, mostly inland floodingFranklin: Moderate, mostly inland floodingManville: High, mostly inland floodingMontgomery: High, mostly inland floodingMillstone: Moderate, mostly inland floodingRaritan: High, mostly inland floodingSomerville: High, mostly inland floodingEast Amwell: Moderate, mostly inland floodingRaritan: Low, mostly inland floodingBound Brook: Very high, mostly inland floodingMiddlesex: Very high, mostly inland floodingWarren: Moderate, mostly inland floodingBernards: Moderate, mostly inland floodingGreen Brook: High, mostly inland floodingTewksbury: Moderate, mostly inland floodingPeapack and Gladstone: High, mostly inland floodingFar Hills: High, mostly inland floodingChester: Moderate, mostly inland floodingClinton: Low, mostly inland floodingBranchburg: Moderate, mostly inland flooding BranchburgHillsboroughBridgewaterBedminsterReadington
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high
Readingtonmostly inland floodingModerate
Branchburgmostly inland floodingModerate
Bedminstermostly inland floodingModerate
Bridgewatermostly inland floodingModerate
Hillsboroughmostly inland floodingModerate
About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.
Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Branchburg covers 3 census tracts, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Branchburg’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Township of Branchburg. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Branchburg total about $9.4M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); 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. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/15 · 2025-01-01
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