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

Cumberland County Disaster Risk

Cumberland County, New Jersey

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Moderate

National Percentile

83th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#17

of 21 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

88th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Moderate

Higher than 88% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Moderate

Higher than 86% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 54% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 87% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Moderate

Higher than 92% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Cumberland County, New Jersey

Cumberland County: below-average risk

Cumberland County scores 82.57 on the composite risk scale, placing it below the national average and earning a relatively moderate overall disaster risk rating. The county's lower score reflects less acute exposure to multiple hazard types compared to many other U.S. counties.

Cumberland: lowest-risk New Jersey county

At 82.57, Cumberland County has the lowest composite risk score among all New Jersey counties, sitting well below the state average of 90.81. This makes Cumberland one of New Jersey's safer communities in terms of natural disaster exposure.

Cumberland significantly safer than peers

Cumberland County (82.57) has substantially lower risk than Gloucester County (86.64) to the north and Cape May County (91.03) to the east, positioning it as New Jersey's least vulnerable county. All three counties share hurricane exposure, but Cumberland faces lower flood and wildfire risks.

Cumberland's main hazard concerns

Hurricane risk (91.95) is Cumberland's highest hazard at 91.95, reflecting coastal and near-coastal exposure despite the county's overall moderate risk profile. Flood risk (88.40) and earthquake risk (87.21) pose secondary concerns, while tornado risk (54.04) is relatively lower.

Smart insurance for Cumberland

While Cumberland has the state's lowest overall risk, flood and hurricane coverage should still be prioritized given the 91.95 hurricane risk score. Review your homeowners policy to ensure comprehensive wind and water damage coverage appropriate to your property's location.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Cumberland County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    HurricanePrepare
    92th percentile
  2. #2
    FloodPrepare
    88th percentile
  3. #3
    EarthquakePrepare
    87th percentile

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Cumberland County

Risk Verdict

Cumberland County registers a moderately elevated natural disaster risk, ranking at the 83th percentile across all U.S. counties. High composite risk signals that multiple hazard types are elevated simultaneously; planning for more than one scenario is important in Cumberland County.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is Cumberland County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 92th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Flood ranks second at the 88th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include earthquake (87th percentile), wildfire (86th percentile), tornado (54th percentile).

Preparedness Context

Cumberland County's primary hazard, hurricane, ranks at the 92th percentile nationally. Having a designated out-of-area contact, a pre-packed go-bag with medications and documents, and a confirmed evacuation route reduces decision-making load when a storm intensifies rapidly. Flood, the county's second-ranked hazard at the 88th percentile nationally, represents an additional preparedness consideration for Cumberland County independent of hurricane season. The National Hurricane Center's official forecast cone and local NWS office watches and warnings are the authoritative sources for Cumberland County storm tracking; households benefit from bookmarking these before storm season rather than relying on social media during an event.

Regional Context

Compared to the New Jersey county average, Cumberland County's composite score runs 8.2 points lower — a gap that reflects the county's relatively modest hazard profile within its state context.

Is your household prepared for Cumberland County's hazards?

Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Cumberland County, NJ?
Cumberland County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, placing it in the 83th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Cumberland County?
Cumberland County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (92th percentile), flooding (88th percentile), earthquake (87th percentile), wildfire (86th percentile), tornado (54th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 92th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Cumberland County risk compare to the New Jersey average?
Cumberland County's composite risk percentile is 83th, compared to the New Jersey state average of 91th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Moderate. This means Cumberland County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in New Jersey.
Is Cumberland County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Cumberland County's hurricane risk is at the 92th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Cumberland County is at the 88th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Cumberland County a safe place to live?
Cumberland County's composite risk score of 83th percentile is below the New Jersey state average of 91th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is hurricane at the 92th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Warren County

New Jersey

-1.8

Relatively Low

81th percentile

Hunterdon County

New Jersey

-3.9

Relatively Low

79th percentile

Gloucester County

New Jersey

+4.1

Relatively Moderate

87th percentile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

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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