Natural hazards · Elk

Elk, NJ natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Elk comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1978. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Elk?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Elk to be higher than in 7% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding46%Hurricanes9%Earthquakes8%Drought8%Strong wind7%Heat waves7%Everything else16%

By hazard

What Elk faces

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

Inland flooding

46% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 11% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

9% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 67% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 11 years in the area

Earthquakes

8% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 66% of U.S. places

Drought

8% of expected damage

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Strong wind

7% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Heat waves

7% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 6% of U.S. places

Recorded about 11 times a year in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesWildfireLandslidesLightning

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 Elk flood?

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

6paid claims since 1978

$54Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irene: 2 claims, $11K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Elk 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.

Disasters that hit Elk

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into ElkDeclared for Gloucester County only

2012

Hurricane Sandy

$2K to the Township of Elk for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

$158K to the Township of Elk for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$8K to the Township of Elk for repairs

2009

Snowstorm

$8K to the Township of Elk for repairs

Gloucester County has had 22 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe storms.

Around Elk

Elk and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

South Harrisonmostly inland floodingVery low

Harrisonmostly inland floodingVery low

Claytonmostly inland floodingVery low

Franklinmostly inland floodingVery low

Upper Pittsgrovemostly inland floodingVery low

Glassboromostly inland floodingVery low

Elkmostly inland floodingVery low

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. Elk covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Elk’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Township of Elk. 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 Elk total about $1.3M 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.