Natural hazards · River Edge

River Edge, NJ natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in River Edge comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 84 claims here since 1978. 11 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is River Edge?

High

vs. U.S. communities

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

Inland flooding77%Earthquakes7%Everything else16%

By hazard

What River Edge faces

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

Inland flooding

77% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 83% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

7% of expected damage

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

Lower here

Coastal floodingHurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

DroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 River Edge flood?

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

84paid claims since 1978

$4.1Mpaid to owners

16homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irene: 17 claims, $932K
April 2007 Nor'easter: 14 claims, $1.4M
Hurricane Sandy: 10 claims, $794K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (3) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. River Edge 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 River Edge

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into River EdgeDeclared for Bergen County only

2021

Remnants of Hurricane Ida

117 households applied for aid $376K aid approved $13K to the Borough of River Edge for repairs

2020

Tropical Storm Isaias

$149K to the Borough of River Edge for repairs

2018

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$60K to the Borough of River Edge for repairs

2016

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$60K to the Borough of River Edge for repairs

2012

Hurricane Sandy

78 households applied for aid $3K aid approved $213K to the Borough of River Edge for repairs

2011

Severe Storm

$70K to the Borough of River Edge for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

90 households applied for aid $134K aid approved $53K to the Borough of River Edge for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$32K to the Borough of River Edge for repairs

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

25 households applied for aid $12K aid approved $98K to the Borough of River Edge for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding

97 households applied for aid $92K aid approved $85K to the Borough of River Edge for repairs

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$32K to the Borough of River Edge for repairs

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

Around River Edge

River Edge and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

River Edgemostly inland floodingHigh

New Milfordmostly inland floodingModerate

Hackensackmostly inland floodingModerate

Paramusmostly inland floodingModerate

Oradellmostly inland floodingLow

Teaneckmostly 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. River Edge covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to River Edge’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Borough of River Edge. 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 River Edge total about $4.0M 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.