Jersey City, NJ Flood Zone Map
Last updated: August 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 5,190 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
27,239
Hudson County
Avg. Premium
$851/yr
Hudson County
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Hudson County
Properties in Hudson County have filed 5,190 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 August 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
5,190 claims over 45+ years across 27,239 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$34,150
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 August 2026, claims since 1978 (August 2026), population from FEMA NRI. All figures are county-wide and include Jersey City.
Not sure whether you're required to carry it? See do I need flood insurance?, or compare NFIP vs. private flood insurance.
Repetitive Loss Properties: Hudson County
Hudson County has 573 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 August 2026.
Multiple Loss
573
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 560 of 573 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced August 2026.
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 August 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 August 2026.
Flood Mitigation: Hudson County
FEMA has funded mitigation for 2 properties in Hudson County, investing $2.2M in flood risk reduction. Common mitigation actions include acquisition (buying and demolishing flood-prone structures), elevation (raising buildings above flood level), and safe rooms (wind/storm shelters for tornado and hurricane protection).
By Action Type
Source: OpenFEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance. Data sourced August 2026. FEMA records a total payment per grant rather than per property, so the dollar figure is an estimate that splits each grant across the properties it covers; the property count is exact.
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.
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.
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 about a quarter of all NFIP flood claims come from properties outside high-risk zones.
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 5,190 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 there in Jersey City?
Hudson County had 27,239 NFIP flood insurance policies written or renewed over the trailing 13 months, with an average annual premium of $851. The most policies are in Zone AE (22,809 policies). These are county-level counts of policies written or renewed in the trailing 13 months, not a point-in-time count of policies in force - a policy renewed inside that window is counted twice.
How many Jersey City properties have flooded repeatedly?
Hudson County has 573 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
See the Flood Map for Any Jersey City, NJ Address
Enter a Jersey City, NJ address to view its FEMA flood map, 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 August 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.