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Burlington County, New Jersey

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Moderate overall risk
10th of 21highest risk in New Jersey
$176Mexpected losses a year
28federal declarations
1 in 48homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Burlington County, New Jersey has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 94% of US counties. It ranks 10th of 21 counties in New Jersey. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $176 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $381 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2021 (remnants of hurricane ida). About 1 in 48 homes here carry federal flood insurance (2,859 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $29 million on 2,180 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Burlington County

$122 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Strong wind

Very High
$9.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.

Earthquake

Moderate
$9.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 580 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingHigh96.4
$122M
Strong windVery High99.0
$9M
EarthquakeModerate92.0
$9M
HurricaneModerate88.8
$8M
Heat waveModerate93.8
$6M
Cold waveModerate81.5
$5M
TornadoModerate78.2
$5M
Coastal floodingModerate79.0
$3M
Ice stormVery High96.4
$3M
WildfireModerate92.2
$2M
LightningHigh94.5
$2M
Winter weatherVery High98.5
$2M
DroughtModerate72.3
$740K
HailVery Low32.7
$166K
LandslideVery Low61.1
$4K

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Burlington County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Hurricane9
Snowstorm6
Severe Storm6
Drought2
Flood2
Fire2

Most recent

Sep 5, 2021Remnants of Hurricane IdaMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2021Remnants of Hurricane IdaEmergency
Dec 11, 2020Tropical Storm IsaiasMajor disaster
Jun 8, 2018Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2016Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jul 22, 2015Severe StormMajor disaster
Oct 30, 2012Hurricane SandyMajor disaster
Oct 28, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Aug 31, 2011Hurricane IreneMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2011Hurricane IreneEmergency
Show all 28
Feb 4, 2011Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Apr 2, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 23, 2010Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Feb 5, 2010SnowstormMajor disaster
May 16, 2007Warren Grove FireFire management
Apr 26, 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 16, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 20, 2003SnowEmergency
Sep 19, 2001Fires and ExplosionsEmergency
Sep 17, 1999Hurricane Floyd Emergency DeclarationsEmergency
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Mar 17, 1993Severe BlizzardEmergency
Oct 19, 1980Water ShortageEmergency
Feb 8, 1977Ice ConditionsMajor disaster
Jul 23, 1975Heavy Rains, High Winds, Hail & TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 4, 1971Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 18, 1965Water ShortageMajor disaster

New Jersey also had 3 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 1,163 storm reports in Burlington County since 1952, with 4 deaths and 48 injuries and about $149 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on June 13, 1958.

25tornadoes
150hail reports, largest 2.5 inches
742damaging thunderstorm winds
129floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jun 13, 1958F2–1 / 0
Sep 23, 2003F1Florence0 / 0
Jul 27, 2004F1Four Mile2 / 0
Mar 10, 1964F1–5 / 0
Jun 21, 1981F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 12, 2004Flash FloodCentral Portion$50M
Aug 28, 2011FloodRiverton$50M
Jun 22, 1996Thunderstorm WindSykesville$12M
Apr 15, 2007FloodCrosswicks$8M
Jun 23, 2015Thunderstorm WindMedford$8M
Sep 16, 1999Flash FloodCountywide$7M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 21, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1856, 6 hurricanes and 22 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Burlington County, 16 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Donna (1960), with top winds near 100 mph about 61 miles away.

6hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
22tropical storms
2021most recent: Elsa

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 12, 1960DonnaCategory 2, 100 mph61 mi
Sep 27, 1985GloriaCategory 1, 95 mph59 mi
Aug 24, 1893UnnamedCategory 1, 90 mph57 mi
Oct 10, 1894UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph48 mi
Aug 10, 1976BelleCategory 1, 85 mph61 mi
Sep 16, 1903UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph54 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 9, 2021ElsaTropical storm, 60 mph58 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 65 mph53 mi
Jul 10, 2020FayTropical storm, 55 mph63 mi
Aug 28, 2011IreneTropical storm, 70 mph63 mi
Sep 6, 2008HannaTropical storm, 50 mph52 mi
Sep 16, 1999FloydTropical storm, 65 mph42 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Burlington County

Check your address flood zone ›
2.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (2,859 policies)
54.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$29.3 millionpaid on 2,180 flood claims since 1978
2004costliest year, with $8 million paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Burlington County

$354,000median home value (New Jersey $454,400, US $332,700)
1977median year homes were built (New Jersey 1970, US 1980)
55%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.1%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 186,315 housing units.

Compare in New Jersey

All 21 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Bergen CountyHighInland flooding
Essex CountyHighInland flooding
Middlesex CountyHighInland flooding
Hudson CountyHighInland flooding
Monmouth CountyHighInland flooding
Ocean CountyHighInland flooding
Union CountyHighInland flooding
Passaic CountyHighInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Philadelphia County, PAVery High23
Bucks County, PAHigh25
Monmouth CountyHigh25
Ocean CountyHigh30
Camden CountyModerate22
Mercer CountyHigh25
Atlantic CountyModerate33

Common questions about Burlington County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Burlington County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Burlington County, about $122 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $9.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Burlington County had?

Burlington County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Remnants of Hurricane Ida in September 2021.

Is Burlington County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 10th highest of 21 in New Jersey. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Burlington County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 48 homes in Burlington County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Burlington County had?

NOAA records list 25 tornadoes in Burlington County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on June 13, 1958. The weather service has also logged 150 hail reports and 129 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Burlington County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 6 hurricanes and 22 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Burlington County. The strongest was Hurricane Donna (1960), with winds near 100 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.