Passaic County, New Jersey Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NJ
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 96th
Passaic County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 95.8, 96th national percentile), driven primarily by strong wind and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $149M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Passaic County is high, with a National Risk Index score of 95.8 out of 100 — placing it in the 96th national percentile and in the upper tier of natural-disaster risk nationally. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Passaic County's expected losses come from strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Very High risk — $6M in expected annual loss and about 5.58 events per year; riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at High risk — $111M in expected annual loss and about 3.50 events per year; and lightning (electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties) at Very High risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 31.45 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $149M in expected annual loss for a population of 524K.
Beyond physical exposure, Passaic County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The federal record bears this out: Passaic County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 9 for hurricane events and 6 for severe storm events. The most recent was Remnants of Hurricane Ida (hurricane), declared in September 2021.
Among 21 New Jersey counties, Passaic County ranks #7 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Strong Wind | Very High | 5.58 / yr | $6M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 3.50 / yr | $111M |
| Lightning | Very High | 31.45 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 13.12 / yr | $883K |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 7.00 / yr | $6M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $8M |
| Cold Wave | High | 0.95 / yr | $6M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.07 / yr | $5M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.09 / yr | $4M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.88 / yr | $214K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.28 / yr | $4K |
| Drought | Low | 2.52 / yr | $84K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $1K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $4K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.40 / yr | $41K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $14 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Passaic County has received 30 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Remnants of Hurricane Ida in September 2021. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (9), Severe Storm (6), Snowstorm (4).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2021 | Hurricane | Remnants of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2021 | Hurricane | Remnants of Hurricane Ida |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| June 2018 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| October 2012 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| October 2012 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| November 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm |
| October 2011 | Severe Storm | Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee |
| August 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
Showing the 10 most recent of 30 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Passaic County?
Passaic County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 95.8 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 96th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Passaic County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Strong Wind (Very High, $6M EAL), Riverine Flood (High, $111M EAL), Lightning (Very High, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Passaic County compare to other New Jersey counties?
Passaic County ranks #7 of 21 New Jersey counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Passaic County had?
FEMA records 30 federal disaster declarations for Passaic County since 1965, most often 9 for hurricane events and 6 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. Passaic County's $149M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.