Natural hazards · West Orange

West Orange, NJ natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in West Orange comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 185 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 West Orange?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

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

Inland flooding70%Heat waves9%Everything else20%

By hazard

What West Orange faces

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

Inland flooding

70% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 64% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Heat waves

9% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 19% of U.S. places

Recorded about 9 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

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 West Orange flood?

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

185paid claims since 1978

$2.2Mpaid to owners

13homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Ida: 39 claims, $1.3M
Hurricane Irene: 31 claims, $285K
Hurricane Floyd: 28 claims, $205K

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. West Orange isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Essex County.

Disasters that hit West Orange

12 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into West OrangeDeclared for Essex County only

2021

Remnants of Hurricane Ida

844 households applied for aid $2.6M aid approved $751K to the Township of West Orange for repairs

2020

Tropical Storm Isaias

$333K to the Township of West Orange for repairs

2018

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$678K to the Township of West Orange for repairs

2016

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$205K to the Township of West Orange for repairs

2012

Hurricane Sandy

1,135 households applied for aid $136K aid approved $1.1M to the Township of West Orange for repairs

2011

Severe Storm

$416K to the Township of West Orange for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

395 households applied for aid $665K aid approved $176K to the Township of West Orange for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$112K to the Township of West Orange for repairs

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

11 households applied for aid $11K aid approved $66K to the Township of West Orange for repairs

2007

Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding

46 households applied for aid $32K aid approved $14K to the Township of West Orange for repairs

2005

Severe Storms and Flooding

2 households applied for aid $2K aid approved

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$73K to the Township of West Orange for repairs

Essex County has had 25 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and severe storms.

Around West Orange

West Orange and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Millburnmostly inland floodingModerate

Veronamostly inland floodingModerate

City of Orangemostly inland floodingModerate

South Orange Villagemostly inland floodingModerate

West Orangemostly inland floodingLow

Livingstonmostly inland floodingLow

Essex Fellsmostly inland floodingLow

Montclairmostly 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. West Orange covers 9 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to West Orange’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Township of West Orange. 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 West Orange total about $11.4M 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.