Natural hazards · Saddle Brook

Saddle Brook, NJ natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Saddle Brook comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 404 claims here since 1979. 11 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Saddle Brook?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Saddle Brook to be higher than in 61% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding76%Earthquakes8%Everything else15%

By hazard

What Saddle Brook faces

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

Inland flooding

76% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

8% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 76% of U.S. places

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingWildfireDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Saddle Brook flood?

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

404paid claims since 1979

$13.3Mpaid to owners

51homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irene: 159 claims, $5.8M
Hurricane Floyd: 98 claims, $1.4M
Hurricane Ida: 62 claims, $2.6M

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (8) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Saddle Brook 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 Saddle Brook

11 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into Saddle BrookDeclared for Bergen County only

2021

Remnants of Hurricane Ida

274 households applied for aid $758K aid approved $119K to the Township of Saddle Brook for repairs

2020

Tropical Storm Isaias

$64K to the Township of Saddle Brook for repairs

2018

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$23K to the Township of Saddle Brook for repairs

2012

Hurricane Sandy

152 households applied for aid $36K aid approved $169K to the Township of Saddle Brook for repairs

2011

Severe Storm

$59K to the Township of Saddle Brook for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

438 households applied for aid $1.2M aid approved $151K to the Township of Saddle Brook for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$31K to the Township of Saddle Brook for repairs

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

6 households applied for aid $4K aid approved $43K to the Township of Saddle Brook for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding

134 households applied for aid $214K aid approved $61K to the Township of Saddle Brook for repairs

2005

Severe Storms and Flooding

2 households applied for aid $1K aid approved

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$164K to the Township of Saddle Brook for repairs

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

Around Saddle Brook

Saddle Brook and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Rochelle Parkmostly inland floodingHigh

Lodimostly inland floodingHigh

Saddle Brookmostly inland floodingHigh

Garfieldmostly inland floodingModerate

Fair Lawnmostly 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. Saddle Brook covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Saddle Brook’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Township of Saddle Brook. 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 Saddle Brook total about $5.1M 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.