Natural hazards · Washington

Washington, NJ natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Washington comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 190 claims here since 1979. 5 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Washington?

Very low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Washington to be higher than in 9% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding51%Heat waves10%Strong wind8%Earthquakes7%Cold waves7%Hurricanes6%Everything else11%

By hazard

What Washington faces

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

Inland flooding

51% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 15% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Heat waves

10% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 6% of U.S. places

Recorded about 11 times a year in the area

Strong wind

8% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 90% of U.S. places

Recorded about 6 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

7% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 61% of U.S. places

Cold waves

7% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 40% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Hurricanes

6% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 68% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 9 years in the area

Lower here

Coastal floodingHailIce stormsWinter weatherWildfireLandslidesLightningDrought

Not a risk here

AvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Washington flood?

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

190paid claims since 1979

$5.0Mpaid to owners

29homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irene: 41 claims, $1.6M
Hurricane Sandy: 18 claims, $1.1M
Hurricane Floyd: 14 claims, $124K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (6) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Gloucester County.

Disasters that hit Washington

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WashingtonDeclared for Gloucester County only

2020

Tropical Storm Isaias

$150K to the Township of Washington for repairs

2012

Hurricane Sandy

$131K to the Township of Washington for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

$39K to the Township of Washington for repairs

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

$55K to the Township of Washington for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding

$11K to the Township of Washington for repairs

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

Around Washington

Washington and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Gloucestermostly inland floodingVery low

Mantuamostly inland floodingVery low

Deptfordmostly inland floodingVery low

Monroemostly inland floodingVery low

Washingtonmostly inland floodingVery low

Glassboromostly inland floodingVery low

Pitmanmostly 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. Washington covers 11 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Washington’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Township of Washington. 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 Washington total about $9.3M 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.