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Natural hazard risk in Somerset County, New Jersey

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on FEMA, NOAA and OpenFEMA data. Published by Humblebee.

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively Moderate (score 90.9 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$160.6 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1965
27[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$239.8 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
5[4]

FEMA's National Risk Index rates the overall natural hazard risk for Somerset County, New Jersey as Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties[5]. The hazards with the highest FEMA scores within the county are inland flooding, winter weather and strong wind[6].

FEMA risk ratings for each hazard

Ratings and expected losses from the FEMA National Risk Index. Each rating compares this county with all US counties for that hazard, from Very Low to Very High. They are planning estimates, not predictions, and they do not describe any single property.

FEMA's National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) gives Somerset County an overall Risk Index score of 90.9 out of 100[5]. FEMA lists $160.6 million a year in Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards[1]. This is a FEMA estimate of average yearly loss, not money anyone paid[7]. FEMA's largest hazard-type loss values are inland flooding, earthquake and hurricane, in that order[8]. FEMA rates social vulnerability Very Low[9] and community resilience Very High[10] compared with other US counties.

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
Inland FloodingRelatively High$125.7 million[11]
Winter WeatherRelatively High$1.0 million[12]
Strong WindRelatively High$4.5 million[13]
Ice StormRelatively High$1.7 million[14]
EarthquakeRelatively Low$7.1 million[15]
Heat WaveRelatively Moderate$4.3 million[16]
HurricaneRelatively Moderate$5.3 million[17]
LightningRelatively High$1.4 million[18]
Cold WaveRelatively Moderate$4.3 million[19]
TornadoRelatively Moderate$4.6 million[20]
DroughtRelatively Low$432,000[21]
WildfireVery Low$33,000[22]
Coastal FloodingVery Low$7,358[23]
LandslideVery Low$273[24]
HailVery Low$87,000[25]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: avalanche, tsunami, volcanic activity[26].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

FEMA uses these two ratings to scale expected losses into the Risk Index.

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityVery Low10.6[9]
Community resilienceVery High93.2[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively High for Somerset County, with a score of 95.0 out of 100[11]. FEMA rates coastal flooding risk Very Low[23]. OpenFEMA lists 1,323 residential structures inside the mapped Special Flood Hazard Area and 702 flood insurance contracts there, so 53.1% of homes inside the SFHA are insured[27]. OpenFEMA's tally of NFIP claims from 1978 to 2026 shows 6,502 claims filed and $239.8 million paid[3]. For a specific address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[28].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[11] Relatively High, $125.7 million expected loss a year
Coastal Flooding, FEMA risk rating[23] Very Low, $7,358 expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[27] 1,407 of 104,223 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[27] 1,323, of which 702 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 6,502 filed, $239.8 million paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[28]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 27 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Somerset County since 1965[2]. The most recent are two declarations for the remnants of Hurricane Ida in September 2021[29]. NOAA's tornado database records 5 tornadoes touching the county from 1950 to 2024, and the most recent was on 2023-06-26[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Somerset County, since 1965
Incident type Declarations
Hurricane[2] 9
Severe Storm[2] 6
Flood[2] 5
Snowstorm[2] 4
Drought[2] 2
Fire[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
DR-4614-NJ[29] Remnants Of Hurricane Ida 2021-09-05
EM-3573-NJ[29] Remnants Of Hurricane Ida 2021-09-02
DR-4368-NJ[29] Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm 2018-06-08
DR-4264-NJ[29] Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm 2016-03-14
DR-4086-NJ[29] Hurricane Sandy 2012-10-30

How to prepare

Steps from Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, for the hazards with the highest FEMA ratings here. Follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service when a warning is issued.

Floods

Before

  • Check your flood risk with FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, and remember that floods do not follow map lines.
  • Sign up for your community's warning system. NOAA Weather Radio also broadcasts alerts.
  • Buy flood insurance through the NFIP well before a disaster. Homeowners policies do not cover flooding, and a new policy typically takes up to 30 days to go into effect.
  • Make a household plan with evacuation routes, shelter locations and what to do in a flash flood.
  • Keep important documents in a waterproof container and make password-protected digital copies.

During

  • If you are told to evacuate, leave right away and never drive around barricades.
  • Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwater. Six inches of moving water can knock you down.
  • If you are trapped in a building, go to the highest level, but do not climb into a closed attic.

Source: Ready.gov, floods

Winter storms and cold

Before

  • Insulate your home and learn how to keep pipes from freezing.
  • Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup.
  • Keep several days of supplies in case the power goes out, including medication and pet needs.
  • Put an emergency kit in your car with jumper cables, sand, blankets, water and snacks, and keep the tank full.

During

  • Under a winter storm warning, find shelter right away.
  • Stay off the roads if you can. If you are stuck in your car, stay inside it.
  • Run generators and grills only outdoors, away from windows, and never heat your home with an oven or stove.

Source: Ready.gov, winter storms and cold

Earthquakes

Before

  • Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On with your family and coworkers.
  • Sign up for earthquake alerts that can warn you before shaking starts.
  • Make a plan with an out-of-state contact and a place to meet if you get separated.
  • Anchor heavy items such as bookcases, refrigerators and water heaters, and keep heavy things on low shelves.
  • Consider earthquake insurance. Standard homeowners policies do not cover earthquake damage.

During

  • Drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck, and hold on until the shaking stops.
  • Indoors, stay where you are and avoid doorways. Outdoors, move to an open area away from buildings and power lines.
  • If you are driving, pull over, stop and set the parking brake.

Source: Ready.gov, earthquakes

Questions people ask

Is Somerset County, NJ at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively High for Somerset County compared with other US counties, with a score of 95.0[11]. FEMA rates coastal flooding Very Low[23].
How many federal disasters have been declared in Somerset County?
OpenFEMA lists 27 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Somerset County since 1965[2].
Does Somerset County have tornadoes?
NOAA's tornado database records 5 tornadoes touching Somerset County from 1950 to 2024[4]. FEMA rates tornado risk Relatively Moderate compared with other US counties[20].
Is Somerset County at risk of hurricanes or earthquakes?
FEMA rates hurricane risk Relatively Moderate[17] and earthquake risk Relatively Low[15] compared with other US counties.
How do I check the flood zone of an address?
FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps, and you can look up an address there[28].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Somerset County is $160.6 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively Moderate, score 94.4). Of this, buildings account for $132.5 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 27 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Somerset County since 1965 (18 major disaster, 9 emergency or fire management). By incident type: hurricane 9, severe storm 6, flood 5, snowstorm 4, drought 2, fire 1. Biological (such as COVID-19) and... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 6,502 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Somerset County, 5,767 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $239.8 million in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 5 recorded tornadoes touched Somerset County. The strongest were rated F3 (most recent of them on 1990-10-18). 2 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2023-06-26. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and the... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  5. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Somerset County is Relatively Moderate, with a Risk Index score of 90.9 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  6. Among the 18 hazards in the FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), the hazards with the highest hazard-type Risk Index scores for Somerset County are inland flooding (95.0, Relatively High), winter weather (94.2, Relatively High), strong wind (93.7, Relatively High). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. FEMA's National Risk Index FAQ (December 2025): Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of the average economic loss in dollars from natural hazards each year. The index is not meant to predict how much damage a community will have in the next year, and a hazard can still cause damage where a rating is low. Scores... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  8. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Somerset County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are inland flooding ($125.7 million a year), earthquake ($7.1 million a year), hurricane ($5.3 million a year), out of $160.6 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Somerset County is Very Low (score 10.6). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Somerset County is Very High (score 93.2). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Somerset County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 95.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $125.7 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 6.29 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of... FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Somerset County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 94.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.0 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 12 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Somerset County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 93.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $4.5 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 6.8 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Somerset County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 90.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.7 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 0.95 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Somerset County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 88.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $7.1 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0019 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Somerset County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 88.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $4.3 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 7.42 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of... FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hurricane in Somerset County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 83.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $5.3 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.11 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 172... FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Somerset County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 83.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.4 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 34.15 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Somerset County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 74.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $4.3 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 0.89 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18... FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Somerset County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 72.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $4.6 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 0.12 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Somerset County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 58.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $432,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 2.88 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Somerset County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 35.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $33,000 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0002 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), coastal flooding in Somerset County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 29.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $7,358 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.012 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Somerset County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 23.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $273 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Somerset County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 15.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $87,000 a year (rating Very Low). Annualized frequency 2.43 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  26. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Somerset County: avalanche, tsunami, volcanic activity. FEMA uses Not Applicable when its source data has no historical record of the hazard in the community and the hazard is not considered geographically possible there. FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  27. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 1,407 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Somerset County, out of 104,223 residential structures, a penetration rate of 1.4%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 1,323 residential structures and 702 contracts,... OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  28. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) produced under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood zones apply to specific properties: look up an address there or ask the local floodplain manager. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of... FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  29. Most recent federal disaster declarations for natural hazards (table on this page). OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations

FEMA's National Risk Index compares each county with all other US counties. Ratings are relative (Very Low to Very High), not a measure of safety. Never call a place safe, unsafe, good or bad to live in. Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss values are FEMA estimates for planning. They do not predict next year's losses and do not apply to a single property. Flood zones are set by FEMA flood maps for specific properties. County ratings and flood insurance counts do not tell anyone whether an address is in a flood zone. Disaster declaration, NFIP and tornado counts are records of the past for this county only. Do not compare with other counties unless a fact does.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Risk Index Dataset: National Risk Index Counties, v1.20 (December 2025). Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com on October 30, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.