Natural hazards · Sparta

Sparta, NJ natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Sparta comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1978. 9 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Sparta?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Sparta to be higher than in 25% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding41%Cold waves27%Strong wind20%Everything else12%

By hazard

What Sparta faces

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

Inland flooding

41% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 27% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

27% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 35% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Strong wind

20% of expected damage

Well above average · among the top 1% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightningDrought

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 Sparta flood?

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

6paid claims since 1978

$33Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irene: 2 claims, $13K

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Sparta isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Sussex County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

1flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Sparta

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into SpartaDeclared for Sussex County only

2021

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$168K to the Township of Sparta for repairs

2020

Tropical Storm Isaias

$46K to the Township of Sparta for repairs

2012

Hurricane Sandy

280 households applied for aid $74K aid approved $473K to the Township of Sparta for repairs

2011

Severe Storm

$44K to the Township of Sparta for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

334 households applied for aid $746K aid approved $86K to the Township of Sparta for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding

$3K to the Township of Sparta for repairs

2005

Severe Storms and Flooding

4 households applied for aid $7K aid approved

2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

1 household applied for aid

2000

Severe Storms, Flooding and Mudslides

$590K to the Township of Sparta for repairs

Sussex County has had 22 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and hurricanes.

Around Sparta

Sparta and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Ogdensburgmostly inland floodingLow

Lafayettemostly inland floodingLow

Andovermostly inland floodingLow

Hardystonmostly inland floodingLow

Jeffersonmostly inland floodingLow

Spartamostly 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. Sparta covers 4 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Sparta’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Township of Sparta. 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 Sparta total about $8.0M 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.