Natural disaster risk in New Jersey, by county
All 21 counties in New Jersey, ranked by FEMA's National Risk Index composite risk score, with each one's highest-rated hazard. Other states
At a glance
Highest overall risk: Bergen County (relatively high, score 97.8). Lowest: Salem County (relatively low, score 76.5).
Top hazards in New Jersey
| Hazard | Counties rated relatively high or very high | Average score |
|---|---|---|
| Strong wind | 21 of 21 | 96.3 |
| Winter weather | 17 of 21 | 93.5 |
| Inland (riverine) flooding | 13 of 21 | 91.1 |
| Lightning | 13 of 21 | 83.8 |
| Ice storm | 11 of 21 | 80.1 |
All counties, highest risk first
| # | County | Overall risk | Highest-rated hazard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bergen County | Relatively high 97.8 | Coastal flooding (very high) |
| 2 | Middlesex County | Relatively high 97.8 | Ice storm (very high) |
| 3 | Essex County | Relatively high 97.7 | Strong wind (very high) |
| 4 | Hudson County | Relatively high 97.2 | Coastal flooding (very high) |
| 5 | Monmouth County | Relatively high 96.3 | Strong wind (very high) |
| 6 | Ocean County | Relatively high 96.2 | Strong wind (very high) |
| 7 | Passaic County | Relatively high 95.8 | Strong wind (very high) |
| 8 | Union County | Relatively high 95.5 | Strong wind (very high) |
| 9 | Mercer County | Relatively high 95.4 | Strong wind (very high) |
| 10 | Burlington County | Relatively moderate 93.6 | Strong wind (very high) |
| 11 | Camden County | Relatively moderate 93.2 | Winter weather (very high) |
| 12 | Atlantic County | Relatively moderate 93 | Strong wind (very high) |
| 13 | Morris County | Relatively moderate 92.9 | Winter weather (very high) |
| 14 | Cape May County | Relatively moderate 91 | Coastal flooding (very high) |
| 15 | Somerset County | Relatively moderate 90.9 | Inland (riverine) flooding (relatively high) |
| 16 | Gloucester County | Relatively moderate 86.6 | Winter weather (very high) |
| 17 | Cumberland County | Relatively moderate 82.6 | Winter weather (relatively high) |
| 18 | Warren County | Relatively low 80.8 | Strong wind (relatively high) |
| 19 | Hunterdon County | Relatively low 78.7 | Strong wind (relatively high) |
| 20 | Sussex County | Relatively low 77.4 | Strong wind (very high) |
| 21 | Salem County | Relatively low 76.5 | Coastal flooding (very high) |
How to read these ratings
- Ratings run in five steps: very low, relatively low, relatively moderate, relatively high and very high. They compare a county with every other US county; they are not a measure of danger on their own.
- Scores run from 0 to 100 and are national percentiles. The bar shows the score: a score of 80 means a higher value than 80% of US counties.
- Overall risk combines the expected annual loss with social vulnerability and community resilience.
- Expected annual loss is the average yearly loss to buildings, people and agriculture the model expects from all 18 hazards.
- Social vulnerability describes how hard it may be for people to prepare for and recover from a disaster. Higher is worse.
- Community resilience describes a community's ability to prepare, adapt and recover. Higher is better.
- "Not applicable" means FEMA does not model that hazard there (for example, hurricanes far inland).
About this data
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, version 1.20, released December 2025, published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (US public domain). About the National Risk Index. The index is a model of relative risk built from historical hazard records, what is exposed and community factors. It is not a forecast, it does not describe any single property, and it is not insurance or financial advice. For decisions about a specific address, check FEMA's flood maps and your local emergency management office.
Questions
Which county in New Jersey has the highest natural disaster risk?
Bergen County has the highest composite risk score in New Jersey in FEMA's National Risk Index: 97.8, rated relatively high.
Which county in New Jersey has the lowest natural disaster risk?
Salem County has the lowest composite risk score in New Jersey: 76.5, rated relatively low. A low score means lower modelled risk compared with other US counties, not no risk.
What natural disasters is New Jersey most at risk from?
Across New Jersey, the hazards rated highest in the most counties are strong wind, winter weather, inland (riverine) flooding, according to FEMA's National Risk Index. Each county page lists all 18 hazards.
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