Natural hazards · Raritan

Raritan, NJ natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Raritan comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 17 claims here since 1979. 5 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Raritan?

High

vs. U.S. communities

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

Inland flooding74%Earthquakes8%Everything else19%

By hazard

What Raritan faces

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

Inland flooding

74% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 81% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

8% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 75% of U.S. places

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

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 Raritan flood?

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

17paid claims since 1979

$3.7Mpaid to owners

2homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irene: 4 claims, $877K
Hurricane Ida: 3 claims, $651K
Hurricane Floyd: 3 claims, $993K

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. Raritan isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Somerset County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

3homes raised above flood level

1flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Raritan

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into RaritanDeclared for Somerset County only

2021

Remnants of Hurricane Ida

197 households applied for aid $705K aid approved

2012

Hurricane Sandy

70 households applied for aid $9K aid approved

2011

Hurricane Irene

58 households applied for aid $86K aid approved

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

3 households applied for aid $823 aid approved

2007

Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding

1 household applied for aid

Somerset County has had 23 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and hurricanes.

Around Raritan

Raritan and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Somervillemostly inland floodingHigh

Raritanmostly inland floodingHigh

Bridgewatermostly inland floodingModerate

Hillsboroughmostly 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. Raritan covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Raritan’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Borough of Raritan. 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 Raritan total about $3.2M 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.