Jersey City, NJ Flood Zone Lookup
Last updated: March 2026
Jersey City's waterfront along the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay is vulnerable to coastal storm surge. Hurricane Sandy caused significant flooding in waterfront neighborhoods and hobbled critical infrastructure.
Hudson County has recorded 5,180 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $177.2M in payouts. Explore the full NFIP claims data by state and county to see how this area compares nationally.
FEMA Region
Region 2
NFIP Policies
27,422
Hudson County
Avg. Premium
$843/yr
Hudson County
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Hudson County
Based on FEMA's National Risk Index, which evaluates flood risk at the county level using historical loss data, exposure, and vulnerability.
Inland Flood Risk
Relatively HighEst. annual loss: $128.3M
Coastal Flood Risk
Very HighEst. annual loss: $8.3M
Hurricane Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $7.4M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Hudson County
Hudson County has been included in 10 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 3 earlier declarations since 1971.
These declarations affected communities across Hudson County, including Jersey City.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Hudson County
Properties in Hudson County have filed 5,180 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $177.2M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $34K.
Highest-Claim Years
2012
2,334 claims - $135.2M
2011
654 claims - $8.2M
2021
645 claims - $13.9M
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced March 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage: Hudson County
Only roughly 1 in 10 households in Hudson County carries NFIP flood insurance (10% of estimated households). This county has elevated flood risk with below-average insurance coverage, meaning many flood losses may go uninsured.
Penetration Rate
10%
roughly 1 in 10 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 5
5,180 claims over 45+ years across 27,422 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$34,214
Per claim, county-wide since 1978
Historically, Hudson County has averaged 1 claim for every 5 active policies (since 1978). This compares cumulative claims against today's policy count and does not predict future claim likelihood.
Coverage data: NFIP policies as of March 2026, claims since 1978 (March 2026), population from FEMA NRI. All figures are county-wide and include Jersey City.
What Your Flood Zone Means in Jersey City
Jersey City is primarily at risk from coastal flooding, including hurricane storm surge, tidal flooding, and wave action. Coastal storms can push seawater inland with little warning, and properties in VE (Velocity) zones face the most severe exposure to breaking waves. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Jersey City are Zone AE, Zone VE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $128.3M. The county is rated "Very High" for coastal flood risk by FEMA's National Risk Index. Properties in Jersey City's VE zones face additional wave action risk beyond still-water flooding, which typically results in higher insurance premiums and stricter building requirements.
Coastal flood insurance premiums in Jersey City are typically higher than inland areas due to the destructive force of storm surge and wave action. Properties in VE zones face the highest premiums because wave damage compounds the risk beyond still-water flooding. If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance.
Coastal flood maps are among the most frequently updated in the FEMA system, as shoreline erosion and new storm surge modeling refine the boundaries. Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) may shift VE and AE zone boundaries after major storms or updated coastal studies. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Jersey City address.
Repetitive Loss Properties: Hudson County
Hudson County has 570 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 53 severe repetitive loss properties. Severe repetitive loss is a subset of multiple loss, not a separate count. Data sourced March 2026.
Multiple Loss
570
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
53
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
0
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Zone data available for 557 of 570 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced March 2026.
Recorded Flood Events: Hudson County
NOAA has recorded 137 flood events in Hudson County since 1996, causing $3.1M in damage and 3 deaths.
Costliest Events
Events by Type
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced March 2026.
Jersey City, NJ Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Jersey City, NJ?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Jersey City are Zone AE, Zone VE, Zone X. Properties in these high-risk zones (SFHA) may require flood insurance with a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage.
Is flood insurance required in Jersey City?
If your Jersey City property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not federally required to carry flood insurance, though coverage is still recommended since over 40% of all NFIP flood claims come from Zone X properties.
How do I check my flood zone in Jersey City?
Enter your Jersey City address in the search tool above for an instant flood zone determination. Results include your FEMA flood zone, SFHA status, base flood elevation (if available), and FIRM panel information, pulled directly from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer.
How high is flood risk in Jersey City?
According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Hudson County (where Jersey City is located) has a "Relatively High" rating for inland flood risk. The estimated annual flood loss for the county is $128.3M. This county-level assessment considers historical flood losses, social vulnerability, and community resilience.
Has Jersey City experienced major flooding events?
Hudson County, where Jersey City is located, has been part of 10 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Remnants of Hurricane Ida in 2021. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Jersey City?
Hudson County has recorded 5,180 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $177.2M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2012, with 2,334 claims and $135.2M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Jersey City.
How many flood insurance policies are active in Jersey City?
Hudson County currently has 27,422 active NFIP flood insurance policies with an average annual premium of $843. The most policies are in Zone AE (22,990 policies). These figures cover all active NFIP policies in the county.
How many Jersey City properties have flooded repeatedly?
Hudson County has 570 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 53 severe repetitive loss properties. These are properties that have experienced four or more NFIP claims of $5,000+ or two claims exceeding the building value.
Can my Jersey City property be removed from a high-risk flood zone?
Yes, if your property's natural ground elevation is above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in a high-risk zone, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). A successful LOMA removes the property from the Special Flood Hazard Area, generally eliminating the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement. You will need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor. If a property was raised above the BFE with fill material, the process is a LOMR-F rather than a LOMA.
What is Base Flood Elevation in Jersey City?
Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is the predicted height of floodwaters during a 1% annual chance (100-year) flood, shown on FEMA maps as an elevation number in feet above sea level. In Jersey City's Zone AE and Zone VE areas, BFE lines appear on the FIRM as wavy contours labeled with elevation values. Properties with a lowest floor at or above the BFE typically qualify for significantly lower NFIP flood insurance premiums.
Other New Jersey Cities
Understanding Flood Zones
Look Up Any Jersey City, NJ Address
Enter a Jersey City, NJ address to instantly check its FEMA flood zone designation, SFHA status, and insurance requirements.
Disclaimer: Flood risk data on this page is sourced from FEMA datasets including the National Risk Index, NFIP claims and policy records, disaster declarations, and the Community Rating System. These datasets were last extracted on March 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. This page is for informational purposes only and is not a certified flood zone determination. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.