Earthquake Risk in New Jersey
All New Jersey counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index earthquake score
Earthquake risk — ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults — is rated for 21 of 21 New Jersey counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Middlesex County carries the state's highest earthquake score at 96.2, with $20M in expected annual earthquake losses.
No New Jersey county reaches the High band for earthquake, and expected annual losses from earthquake total roughly $168M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Earthquake
| # | County | Earthquake Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middlesex County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $20M | |
| 2 | Bergen County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $20M | |
| 3 | Essex County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $12M | |
| 4 | Hudson County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $11M | |
| 5 | Union County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $13M | |
| 6 | Monmouth County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $14M | |
| 7 | Mercer County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $11M | |
| 8 | Camden County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $10M | |
| 9 | Passaic County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $8M | |
| 10 | Ocean County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $7M | |
| 11 | Burlington County | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $9M | |
| 12 | Gloucester County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $6M | |
| 13 | Morris County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $7M | |
| 14 | Somerset County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $7M | |
| 15 | Atlantic County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $4M | |
| 16 | Cumberland County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $3M | |
| 17 | Salem County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M | |
| 18 | Hunterdon County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $2M | |
| 19 | Cape May County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M | |
| 20 | Sussex County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M | |
| 21 | Warren County | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
21 New Jersey counties with measurable earthquake risk. See the national earthquake ranking or all New Jersey counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which New Jersey county has the highest earthquake risk?
Middlesex County has the highest FEMA earthquake risk score in New Jersey at 96.2 (Medium), with $20M in expected annual losses and about 0.00 events per year.
How many New Jersey counties face significant earthquake risk?
21 New Jersey counties record measurable earthquake risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 0 of them are rated High or Very High.