Natural hazards · Emerson

Emerson, NJ natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Emerson comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 24 claims here since 1979. 12 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Emerson?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Emerson to be higher than in 21% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding64%Earthquakes11%Hurricanes7%Everything else18%

By hazard

What Emerson faces

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

Inland flooding

64% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 36% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

11% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 72% of U.S. places

Hurricanes

7% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 71% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 7 years in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Emerson flood?

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

24paid claims since 1979

$378Kpaid to owners

3homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Floyd: 4 claims, $48K
Hurricane Ida: 2 claims, $96K
Hurricane Irene: 2 claims, $66K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (1) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Bergen County.

Disasters that hit Emerson

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into EmersonDeclared for Bergen County only

2021

Remnants of Hurricane Ida

64 households applied for aid $221K aid approved $42K to the Borough of Emerson for repairs

2020

Tropical Storm Isaias

$69K to the Borough of Emerson for repairs

2018

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$80K to the Borough of Emerson for repairs

2016

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$29K to the Borough of Emerson for repairs

2012

Hurricane Sandy

22 households applied for aid $5K aid approved $182K to the Borough of Emerson for repairs

2011

Severe Storm

$100K to the Borough of Emerson for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

15 households applied for aid $18K aid approved $27K to the Borough of Emerson for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$15K to the Borough of Emerson for repairs

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

8 households applied for aid $3K aid approved $69K to the Borough of Emerson for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding

21 households applied for aid $9K aid approved $9K to the Borough of Emerson for repairs

2005

Severe Storms and Flooding

1 household applied for aid

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$15K to the Borough of Emerson for repairs

Bergen County has had 24 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe storms.

Around Emerson

Emerson and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Westwoodmostly inland floodingHigh

River Valemostly inland floodingModerate

Harrington Parkmostly inland floodingModerate

Paramusmostly inland floodingModerate

Washingtonmostly inland floodingModerate

Oradellmostly inland floodingLow

Clostermostly inland floodingLow

Emersonmostly inland floodingLow

Haworthmostly 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. Emerson covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Emerson’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Borough of Emerson. 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 Emerson total about $1.6M 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.