Natural hazards · Independence

Independence, NJ natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Independence comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2003. 4 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Independence?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Independence to be higher than in 29% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding51%Cold waves22%Strong wind7%Hurricanes6%Everything else15%

By hazard

What Independence faces

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

Inland flooding

51% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 47% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

22% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 33% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Strong wind

7% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 92% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

6% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 73% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 19 years in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat 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 Independence flood?

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

2paid claims since 2003

$38Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

20032026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irene: 1 claim, $22K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Warren County.

Disasters that hit Independence

4 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into IndependenceDeclared for Warren County only

2016

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$20K to the Township of Independence for repairs

2012

Hurricane Sandy

$17K to the Township of Independence for repairs

2011

Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee

$1K to the Township of Independence for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

1 household applied for aid $4K aid approved $15K to the Township of Independence for repairs

Warren County has had 21 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and hurricanes.

Around Independence

Independence and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Hackettstownmostly inland floodingModerate

Libertymostly inland floodingModerate

Mansfieldmostly inland floodingLow

Allamuchymostly inland floodingLow

Independencemostly inland floodingLow

Frelinghuysenmostly 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. Independence covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Independence’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Township of Independence. 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 Independence total about $1.8M 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.