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Natural hazards · River Vale

River Vale, NJ natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in River Vale comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 112 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 Vale?

54
Moderate
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in River Vale to be higher than in 54% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding79%Earthquakes5%Everything else16%
By hazard

What River Vale faces

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

Inland flooding

79% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 76% of U.S. places
Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

5% of expected damage
Above average · higher than 65% of U.S. places

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce 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 River Vale flood?

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

112paid claims since 1978
$3.6Mpaid to owners
23homes flooded more than once
19782026

Biggest named events

  • Hurricane Irene: 26 claims, $1.1M
  • April 2007 Nor'easter: 19 claims, $816K
  • March 2010 Nor'easter: 13 claims, $343K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (5) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured
of all homes
are insured
No community discount. River Vale 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 Vale

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into River ValeDeclared for Bergen County only
2021

Remnants of Hurricane Ida

38 households applied for aid $122K aid approved $188K to the Township of River Vale for repairs
2020

Tropical Storm Isaias

$75K to the Township of River Vale for repairs
2018

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$118K to the Township of River Vale for repairs
2016

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$76K to the Township of River Vale for repairs
2012

Hurricane Sandy

3 households applied for aid $259K to the Township of River Vale for repairs
2011

Severe Storm

$107K to the Township of River Vale for repairs
2011

Hurricane Irene

12 households applied for aid $42K aid approved $36K to the Township of River Vale for repairs
2010

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$43K to the Township of River Vale for repairs
2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

1 household applied for aid $613 aid approved $82K to the Township of River Vale for repairs
2007

Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding

1 household applied for aid $105K to the Township of River Vale for repairs
1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$16K to the Township of River Vale for repairs
Bergen County has had 24 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe storms.
Around River Vale

River Vale and the towns around it

Old Tappan: Low, mostly inland floodingWestwood: High, mostly inland floodingHillsdale: Moderate, mostly inland floodingHarrington Park: Moderate, mostly inland floodingPark Ridge: Low, mostly inland floodingEmerson: Low, mostly inland floodingMontvale: Very low, mostly inland floodingNorthvale: Low, mostly inland floodingWashington: Moderate, mostly inland floodingWoodcliff Lake: Very low, mostly inland floodingSaddle River: Low, mostly inland floodingCloster: Low, mostly inland floodingNorwood: Low, mostly inland floodingHaworth: Very low, mostly inland floodingOradell: Low, mostly inland floodingParamus: Moderate, mostly inland floodingUpper Saddle River: Moderate, mostly inland floodingRiver Vale: Moderate, mostly inland flooding River ValeOld TappanWestwoodHillsdaleHarrington ParkPark RidgeEmersonMontvale
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high
Westwoodmostly inland floodingHigh
River Valemostly inland floodingModerate
Harrington Parkmostly inland floodingModerate
Hillsdalemostly inland floodingModerate
Park Ridgemostly inland floodingLow
Old Tappanmostly inland floodingLow
Emersonmostly inland floodingLow
Montvalemostly 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. River Vale covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to River Vale’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Township of River Vale. 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 Vale total about $3.4M 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.

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You’re in River Vale, NJBergen CountyView boundary

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/15 · 2025-01-01
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