Natural hazards · Califon

Califon, NJ natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Califon comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 34 claims here since 1979. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Califon?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Califon to be higher than in 53% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding76%Strong wind8%Everything else16%

By hazard

What Califon faces

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

Inland flooding

76% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 74% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Strong wind

8% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 96% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightningDrought

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 Califon flood?

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

34paid claims since 1979

$534Kpaid to owners

2homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irene: 9 claims, $199K
Not a named storm: 4 claims, $17K
Hurricane Ida: 3 claims, $59K

Homes that flooded again and again

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

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Califon isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Hunterdon County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

4homes raised above flood level

Disasters that hit Califon

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into CalifonDeclared for Hunterdon County only

2021

Remnants of Hurricane Ida

20 households applied for aid $11K aid approved

2012

Hurricane Sandy

124 households applied for aid $11K aid approved $42K to the Borough of Califon for repairs

2011

Severe Storm

$12K to the Borough of Califon for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

57 households applied for aid $143K aid approved $29K to the Borough of Califon for repairs

2005

Severe Storms and Flooding

1 household applied for aid $2K aid approved

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$5K to the Borough of Califon for repairs

Hunterdon County has had 19 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and hurricanes.

Around Califon

Califon and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Califonmostly inland floodingModerate

Lebanonmostly inland floodingModerate

Tewksburymostly 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. Califon is smaller than a census tract, so it shares the figures of the tract around its center.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Califon’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Borough of Califon. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

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.