Natural hazards · Saddle River

Saddle River, NJ natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Saddle River comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 67 claims here since 1979. 10 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Saddle River?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Saddle River to be higher than in 39% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding81%Earthquakes8%Everything else11%

By hazard

What Saddle River faces

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

Inland flooding

81% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 63% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

8% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 70% 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 Saddle River flood?

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

67paid claims since 1979

$1.5Mpaid to owners

8homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Floyd: 14 claims, $196K
Hurricane Ida: 13 claims, $696K
Hurricane Irene: 7 claims, $116K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (4) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Saddle River 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 River

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into Saddle RiverDeclared for Bergen County only

2021

Remnants of Hurricane Ida

44 households applied for aid $209K aid approved $2.0M to the Borough of Saddle River for repairs

2020

Tropical Storm Isaias

$47K to the Borough of Saddle River for repairs

2018

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$98K to the Borough of Saddle River for repairs

2016

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$35K to the Borough of Saddle River for repairs

2012

Hurricane Sandy

21 households applied for aid $2K aid approved $104K to the Borough of Saddle River for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

8 households applied for aid $3K aid approved

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

2 households applied for aid

2007

Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding

3 households applied for aid $3K aid approved

2005

Severe Storms and Flooding

1 household applied for aid $369 aid approved

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$34K to the Borough of Saddle River for repairs

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

Around Saddle River

Saddle River and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Ho-Ho-Kusmostly inland floodingHigh

Waldwickmostly inland floodingModerate

Hillsdalemostly inland floodingModerate

Upper Saddle Rivermostly inland floodingModerate

Saddle Rivermostly inland floodingLow

Allendalemostly inland floodingLow

Woodcliff Lakemostly 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. Saddle River covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Saddle River’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Borough of Saddle River. 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 River total about $2.0M 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.