Essex County
New Jersey — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 98th
Essex County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 97.7, 98th national percentile), driven primarily by heat wave and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $214M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Heat Wave | High | 9.26 / yr | $19M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 3.07 / yr | $149M |
| Strong Wind | Very High | 6.36 / yr | $5M |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 11.30 / yr | $697K |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $12M |
| Cold Wave | High | 0.57 / yr | $9M |
| Tornado | High | 0.05 / yr | $8M |
| Lightning | High | 31.99 / yr | $995K |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.11 / yr | $8M |
| Hail | Medium | 2.42 / yr | $981K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.74 / yr | $265K |
| Coastal Flood | Medium | 3.76 / yr | $556K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.08 / yr | $988 |
| Drought | Very Low | 2.96 / yr | $10K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $2K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Essex County?
Essex County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 97.7 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 98th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Essex County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Heat Wave (High, $19M EAL), Riverine Flood (High, $149M EAL), Strong Wind (Very High, $5M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Essex County compare to other New Jersey counties?
Essex County ranks #3 of 21 New Jersey counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Essex County's $214M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.