Which covered New Jersey cities have the highest relative hurricane risk?
Newark use FEMA data for Essex County, which has the highest relative hurricane score in this covered set at 92.8/100. Cities sharing the same FEMA area share the same score.
Hurricane Risk by City in New Jersey
Compare 7 cities using FEMA's relative hurricane scores and annualized frequency for the county-equivalent areas shown.
Highest relative score
92.8/100
Essex County
Covered cities: Newark
Lowest relative score in this set
89.9/100
Passaic County
Covered cities: Clifton and Paterson
These are relative FEMA scores for county-equivalent areas. They are not annual probabilities or property-level findings.
New Jersey hurricane rankings
Cities sharing a FEMA area are grouped together and receive the same score.
| Rank | FEMA area and cities | Rating | Score | Annualized frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Essex County | Relatively Moderate | 92.8/100 | 0.109 per year |
| #2 | Hudson County | Relatively Moderate | 92.6/100 | 0.185 per year |
| #3 | Mercer County | Relatively Moderate | 91.8/100 | 0.116 per year |
| #4 | Cumberland County | Relatively Moderate | 90.4/100 | 0.143 per year |
| #5 | Union County | Relatively Moderate | 90.1/100 | 0.108 per year |
| #6 | Passaic County | Relatively Moderate | 89.9/100 | 0.090 per year |
Occurrence thresholds vary by hazard. The FEMA methodology defines the value for each hazard.
Preparing for hurricane
Ready.gov Be Informed ↗For a home or move
- ✓Confirm the exact hazard using official local maps before making property or insurance decisions.
- ✓Review policy exclusions, deductibles, and temporary-living coverage with a licensed professional.
- ✓Keep inspections, inventories, and critical documents in a secure location you can access after an emergency.
For a household plan
- ✓Know how local officials issue warnings and evacuation instructions.
- ✓Maintain water, food, lighting, medications, and communications for several days.
- ✓Create a household communication plan and practice it before an emergency.
Questions about hurricane risk in New Jersey
Which covered New Jersey area has the lowest relative hurricane score?
Passaic County has the lowest score in this covered set at 89.9/100. This is a relative FEMA comparison, not a declaration that every property there is safe.
Are these hurricane figures city-level?
No. The city links provide geographic navigation, while the scores and frequencies cover the FEMA county-equivalent areas shown in the table. Address-level conditions require local maps and property details.
Is the FEMA relative score an annual probability?
No. The relative score compares FEMA areas on a 0–100 scale. Annualized frequency appears separately with hazard-specific units.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0, released March 2023. Hazard data covers FEMA county-equivalent areas.