riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Hunterdon County Disaster Risk

Hunterdon County, New Jersey

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

79th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#19

of 21 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

87th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Moderate

Higher than 87% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 26% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 51% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 76% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 75% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Hunterdon County

Risk Verdict

Hunterdon County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 79th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Flood risk is the dominant hazard for Hunterdon County, scoring in the 87th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 76th percentile. Additional hazards include hurricane (75th), tornado (51th), wildfire (26th).

Preparedness Context

With flood risk as the top concern, Hunterdon County residents should review flood insurance needs (standard home insurance does not cover flood damage), know your evacuation zone, and keep important documents waterproofed. Secondary risks such as earthquake also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Hunterdon County is notably safer than the average county in New Jersey. Its composite risk score is 12.1 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Hunterdon County, NJ?
Hunterdon County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 79th 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 Hunterdon County?
Hunterdon County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: flooding (87th percentile), earthquake (76th percentile), hurricane (75th percentile), tornado (51th percentile), wildfire (26th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is flooding at the 87th 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 Hunterdon County risk compare to the New Jersey average?
Hunterdon County's composite risk percentile is 79th, compared to the New Jersey state average of 91th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Moderate. This means Hunterdon County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in New Jersey.
Is Hunterdon County at risk for flooding?
Yes, Hunterdon County's flooding risk is at the 87th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type.
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 Hunterdon County a safe place to live?
Hunterdon County's composite risk score of 79th 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 flooding at the 87th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Sussex County

New Jersey

-1.2

Relatively Low

77th percentile

Warren County

New Jersey

+2.1

Relatively Low

81th percentile

Salem County

New Jersey

-2.2

Relatively Low

77th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & 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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