FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

New Jersey Disaster Risk

Natural disaster risk data for all 21 counties.

Avg FEMA Rating

Relatively Moderate

Avg Percentile

91th

Counties with Data

of 21 total

County risk atlas

New Jersey hazard exposure by county

A compact 2.5D surface of FEMA National Risk Index percentiles. Toggle composite, flood, wildfire, hurricane, tornado, and earthquake risk to see which counties carry the highest relative exposure without loading the full national explorer dataset.

Counties

21/21

Avg composite

91th

Risk layers

Highest Risk Counties

Bergen County

Relatively High

98th percentile

Middlesex County

Relatively High

98th percentile

Essex County

Relatively High

98th percentile

Hudson County

Relatively High

97th percentile

Monmouth County

Relatively High

96th percentile

Lowest Risk Counties

Salem County

Relatively Low

77th percentile

Sussex County

Relatively Low

77th percentile

Hunterdon County

Relatively Low

79th percentile

Warren County

Relatively Low

81th percentile

Cumberland County

Relatively Moderate

83th percentile

All New Jersey Counties

County	Percentile	FEMA Rating	Flood	Wildfire	Tornado	Earthquake
Bergen County	98th	Relatively High	100.0	21.7	92.3	96.0
Middlesex County	98th	Relatively High	98.9	79.7	94.5	96.2
Essex County	98th	Relatively High	98.8	10.6	94.9	95.6
Hudson County	97th	Relatively High	98.6	4.5	90.7	95.3
Monmouth County	96th	Relatively High	95.8	88.8	55.1	94.0
Ocean County	96th	Relatively High	98.2	95.2	47.2	92.2
Passaic County	96th	Relatively High	97.8	16.1	88.8	93.6
Union County	95th	Relatively High	97.5	16.3	87.2	95.1
Mercer County	95th	Relatively High	97.2	73.4	81.9	94.0
Burlington County	94th	Relatively Moderate	96.4	92.2	78.2	92.0
Camden County	93th	Relatively Moderate	95.6	86.3	84.8	93.8
Atlantic County	93th	Relatively Moderate	96.2	94.3	53.2	88.0
Morris County	93th	Relatively Moderate	96.3	30.0	79.9	88.8
Cape May County	91th	Relatively Moderate	99.4	86.4	38.3	73.9
Somerset County	91th	Relatively Moderate	95.0	35.4	72.3	88.5
Gloucester County	87th	Relatively Moderate	87.9	79.7	69.6	89.3
Cumberland County	83th	Relatively Moderate	88.4	85.8	54.0	87.2
Warren County	81th	Relatively Low	86.5	23.4	49.7	70.8
Hunterdon County	79th	Relatively Low	86.8	26.3	51.4	75.5
Sussex County	77th	Relatively Low	77.3	36.7	44.1	71.1
Salem County	77th	Relatively Low	95.8	68.1	35.1	79.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Which county in New Jersey has the highest natural disaster risk?

Bergen County has the highest natural disaster risk in New Jersey, rated Relatively High (98th percentile nationally), based on FEMA National Risk Index data.

Which county in New Jersey is the safest from natural disasters?

Salem County has the lowest natural disaster risk in New Jersey, rated Relatively Low (77th percentile nationally), based on FEMA NRI data.

What natural disasters are most common in New Jersey?

New Jersey counties face varying levels of risk from floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes. The FEMA National Risk Index scores each county across 18 hazard types. See individual county pages for detailed hazard breakdowns.

How is natural disaster risk measured by county?

The FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) measures natural disaster risk using expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Scores are normalized nationally, with ratings from Very Low to Very High across 18 natural hazard types.

Prepare your household for natural disasters

FEMA's Ready.gov provides county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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