Natural hazards · Vernon

Vernon, NJ natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Vernon comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 17 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 Vernon?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Vernon to be higher than in 35% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding41%Cold waves33%Strong wind15%Everything else11%

By hazard

What Vernon 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 47% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Cold waves

33% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once a year in the area

Strong wind

15% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightningDroughtAvalanches

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingTsunamisVolcanic 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 Vernon flood?

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

17paid claims since 1978

$129Kpaid to owners

2homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irene: 6 claims, $100K
Hurricane Floyd: 1 claim, $1K
March 2010 Nor'easter: 1 claim, $6K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Vernon 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.

Disasters that hit Vernon

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into VernonDeclared for Sussex County only

2021

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$80K to the Township of Vernon for repairs

2020

Tropical Storm Isaias

$48K to the Township of Vernon for repairs

2012

Hurricane Sandy

25 households applied for aid $10K aid approved $71K to the Township of Vernon for repairs

2011

Severe Storm

$51K to the Township of Vernon for repairs

2011

Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee

$142K to the Township of Vernon for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

152 households applied for aid $370K aid approved $257K to the Township of Vernon for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding

$29K to the Township of Vernon for repairs

2005

Severe Storms and Flooding

2 households applied for aid $854 aid approved

2000

Severe Storms, Flooding and Mudslides

$1K to the Township of Vernon for repairs

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

Around Vernon

Vernon and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

West Milfordmostly inland floodingHigh

Wantagemostly inland floodingModerate

Warwickmostly inland floodingModerate

Vernonmostly inland floodingLow

Hardystonmostly 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. Vernon covers 6 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Vernon’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Township of Vernon. 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 Vernon total about $7.4M 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.