Natural hazards · Trenton

Trenton, NJ natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Trenton comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 830 claims here since 1978. 12 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Trenton?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Trenton to be higher than in 77% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding65%Hurricanes8%Earthquakes8%Strong wind7%Everything else13%

By hazard

What Trenton faces

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

Inland flooding

65% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

8% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 84% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 9 years in the area

Earthquakes

8% of expected damage

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

Strong wind

7% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 97% of U.S. places

Recorded about 7 times a year in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesLightning

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 Trenton flood?

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

830paid claims since 1978

$16.3Mpaid to owners

189homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Torrential rain: 45 claims, $718K
Hurricane Irene: 44 claims, $1.2M
Hurricane Floyd: 20 claims, $2.0M

Homes that flooded again and again

Each house = 4 homes. ■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (18) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Mercer County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

22flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Trenton

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into TrentonDeclared for Mercer County only

2021

Remnants of Hurricane Ida

1,310 households applied for aid $1.8M aid approved

2016

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$242K to the City of Trenton for repairs

2012

Hurricane Sandy

1,416 households applied for aid $294K aid approved $363K to the City of Trenton for repairs

2011

Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee

$114K to the City of Trenton for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

1,605 households applied for aid $2.3M aid approved $269K to the City of Trenton for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$69K to the City of Trenton for repairs

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

24 households applied for aid $37K aid approved

2007

Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding

122 households applied for aid $109K aid approved $13K to the City of Trenton for repairs

2006

Severe Storms and Flooding

245 households applied for aid $199K aid approved $455K to the City of Trenton for repairs

2005

Severe Storms and Flooding

220 households applied for aid $350K aid approved

2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

175 households applied for aid $277K aid approved $193K to the City of Trenton for repairs

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$170K to the City of Trenton for repairs

Mercer County has had 21 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and hurricanes.

Around Trenton

Trenton and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Trentonmostly inland floodingHigh

Ewingmostly inland floodingHigh

Lawrencemostly inland floodingHigh

Morrisvillemostly inland floodingHigh

Hamiltonmostly inland floodingModerate

Lower Makefieldmostly inland floodingLow

Fallsmostly 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. Trenton covers 25 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Trenton’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Trenton. 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 Trenton total about $36.3M 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.