Natural hazards · Hamburg

Hamburg, NJ natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Hamburg comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Hamburg?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Hamburg to be higher than in 64% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding56%Cold waves25%Strong wind11%Everything else8%

By hazard

What Hamburg faces

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

Inland flooding

56% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 80% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

25% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 35% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Strong wind

11% of expected damage

Well above average · among the top 1% of U.S. places

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightning

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 Hamburg flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Hamburg.

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Sussex County.

Disasters that hit Hamburg

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into HamburgDeclared for Sussex County only

2021

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$28K to the Borough of Hamburg for repairs

2020

Tropical Storm Isaias

$153K to the Borough of Hamburg for repairs

2012

Hurricane Sandy

38 households applied for aid $2K aid approved $48K to the Borough of Hamburg for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

123 households applied for aid $198K aid approved $121K to the Borough of Hamburg for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding

$1K to the Borough of Hamburg for repairs

2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

2 households applied for aid $11K aid approved

2000

Severe Storms, Flooding and Mudslides

$6K to the Borough of Hamburg for repairs

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

Around Hamburg

Hamburg and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Hamburgmostly inland floodingHigh

Franklinmostly inland floodingModerate

Hardystonmostly inland floodingLow

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. Hamburg covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Hamburg’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Borough of Hamburg. 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 Hamburg total about $1.5M 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.