Gloucester County, New Jersey Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NJ
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 87th
Gloucester County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 86.6, 87th national percentile), driven primarily by strong wind and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $77M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Gloucester County at medium composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 86.6 out of 100 — placing it in the 87th national percentile and near the national midpoint for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Gloucester County's expected losses come from strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at High risk — $5M in expected annual loss and about 5.79 events per year; winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at Very High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 10.69 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Medium risk — $6M in expected annual loss and about 11.11 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $77M in expected annual loss for a population of 302K.
Beyond physical exposure, Gloucester County has a very low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Gloucester County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 9 for hurricane events and 5 for severe storm events. The most recent was Remnants of Hurricane Ida (hurricane), declared in September 2021.
Among 21 New Jersey counties, Gloucester County ranks #16 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Strong Wind | High | 5.79 / yr | $5M |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 10.69 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 11.11 / yr | $6M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $6M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.89 / yr | $983K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 2.57 / yr | $40M |
| Coastal Flood | High | 3.69 / yr | $4M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.11 / yr | $4M |
| Lightning | High | 34.54 / yr | $1M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $498K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.79 / yr | $4M |
| Drought | Medium | 7.14 / yr | $1M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.15 / yr | $3M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.08 / yr | $1K |
| Hail | Low | 2.01 / yr | $235K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Gloucester County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Remnants of Hurricane Ida in September 2021. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (9), Severe Storm (5), Snowstorm (5).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2021 | Hurricane | Remnants of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2021 | Hurricane | Remnants of Hurricane Ida |
| December 2020 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Isaias |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| July 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm |
| October 2012 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| October 2012 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| September 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| August 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
Showing the 10 most recent of 28 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Gloucester County?
Gloucester County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 86.6 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 87th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Gloucester County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Strong Wind (High, $5M EAL), Winter Weather (Very High, $1M EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $6M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Gloucester County compare to other New Jersey counties?
Gloucester County ranks #16 of 21 New Jersey counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Gloucester County had?
FEMA records 28 federal disaster declarations for Gloucester County since 1965, most often 9 for hurricane events and 5 for severe storm events. The most recent was Remnants of Hurricane Ida, declared in September 2021.
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. Gloucester County's $77M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.