Cumberland County, New Jersey
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Cumberland County, New Jersey has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 83% of US counties. It ranks 17th of 21 counties in New Jersey. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $44 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $286 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (19 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2021 (remnants of hurricane ida). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (371 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $13 million on 756 claims here, including $8.6 million for floods in 2012.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Cumberland County
- 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
- Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 72.2 | $13M | ||
| Hurricane | 91.9 | $10M | ||
| Cold wave | 86.8 | $5M | ||
| Coastal flooding | 88.4 | $5M | ||
| Earthquake | 87.2 | $3M | ||
| Heat wave | 88.2 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 86.4 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 54.0 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 84.0 | $1M | ||
| Wildfire | 85.8 | $673K | ||
| Lightning | 79.0 | $623K | ||
| Winter weather | 94.7 | $574K | ||
| Hail | 48.4 | $221K | ||
| Ice storm | 70.2 | $200K | ||
| Landslide | 28.2 | $240 |
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 relatively moderate and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Cumberland County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 28
New Jersey also had 3 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1963
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 418 storm reports in Cumberland County since 1963, with 1 death and 3 injuries and about $80.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 13, 1975.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 13, 1975 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 10, 1990 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 23, 1988 | F1 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Nov 26, 1979 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 16, 1995 | F1 | Bridgeton | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 13, 1975 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Aug 28, 2011 | Flood | Delmont | $25M |
| Aug 14, 2011 | Flash Flood | Stow Creek Lndg | $20M |
| Jun 29, 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Greenwich | $4M |
| Aug 20, 1997 | Flash Flood | Sea Breeze | $2M |
| Apr 15, 2007 | Flood | Port Elizabeth | $2M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 18, 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, 3 hurricanes and 20 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Cumberland County, 12 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Gloria (1985), with top winds near 95 mph about 59 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 1985 | Gloria | Category 2, 95 mph | 59 mi |
| Oct 10, 1894 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 16, 1903 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 59 mi |
| Aug 28, 2011 | Irene | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 58 mi |
| Jul 13, 1996 | Bertha | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 62 mi |
| Aug 28, 1971 | Doria | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 62 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 9, 2021 | Elsa | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 42 mi |
| Aug 4, 2020 | Isaias | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 44 mi |
| Jul 10, 2020 | Fay | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 56 mi |
| Aug 28, 2011 | Irene | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 58 mi |
| Sep 6, 2008 | Hanna | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 39 mi |
| Sep 16, 1999 | Floyd | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 62 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 Cumberland County
Check your address flood zone ›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 Cumberland County
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; 57,282 housing units.
Compare in New Jersey
All 21 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Bergen County | Inland flooding | |
| Essex County | Inland flooding | |
| Middlesex County | Inland flooding | |
| Hudson County | Inland flooding | |
| Monmouth County | Inland flooding | |
| Ocean County | Inland flooding | |
| Union County | Inland flooding | |
| Passaic County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Gloucester County | 25 | |
| Atlantic County | 33 | |
| Kent County, DE | 15 | |
| Cape May County | 31 | |
| Salem County | 23 |
Cities in Cumberland County
Common questions about Cumberland County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Cumberland County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Cumberland County, about $12.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $10 million.
How many federal disasters has Cumberland County had?
Cumberland County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 19 major disasters. The most recent was Remnants of Hurricane Ida in September 2021.
Is Cumberland County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 17th 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 Cumberland County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 111 homes in Cumberland 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 Cumberland County had?
NOAA records list 10 tornadoes in Cumberland County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 13, 1975. The weather service has also logged 36 hail reports and 56 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Cumberland County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 3 hurricanes and 20 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Cumberland County. The strongest was Hurricane Gloria (1985), with winds near 95 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.