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Cumberland County, New Jersey

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
17th of 21highest risk in New Jersey
$44Mexpected losses a year
28federal declarations
1 in 111homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$12.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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.

Hurricane

Moderate
$10 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 years.
  • 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow72.2
$13M
HurricaneModerate91.9
$10M
Cold waveModerate86.8
$5M
Coastal floodingHigh88.4
$5M
EarthquakeLow87.2
$3M
Heat waveModerate88.2
$2M
Strong windHigh86.4
$2M
TornadoLow54.0
$1M
DroughtModerate84.0
$1M
WildfireLow85.8
$673K
LightningModerate79.0
$623K
Winter weatherHigh94.7
$574K
HailLow48.4
$221K
Ice stormModerate70.2
$200K
LandslideVery Low28.2
$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

Hurricane10
Snowstorm6
Severe Storm5
Flood3
Drought2
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Sep 5, 2021Remnants of Hurricane IdaMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2021Remnants of Hurricane IdaEmergency
Dec 11, 2020Tropical Storm IsaiasMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2016Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Oct 30, 2012Hurricane SandyMajor disaster
Oct 28, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Jul 19, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
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
Sep 19, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
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
Dec 18, 1992Coastal Storm, High Tides, Heavy Rain, & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 3, 1992Severe Coastal StormMajor disaster
Oct 15, 1985Hurricane GloriaMajor disaster
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 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.

10tornadoes
36hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
226damaging thunderstorm winds
56floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 13, 1975F2–0 / 0
May 10, 1990F2–0 / 0
Jul 23, 1988F1–1 / 0
Nov 26, 1979F1–0 / 0
Jul 16, 1995F1Bridgeton0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 13, 1975Tornado–$25M
Aug 28, 2011FloodDelmont$25M
Aug 14, 2011Flash FloodStow Creek Lndg$20M
Jun 29, 2012Thunderstorm WindGreenwich$4M
Aug 20, 1997Flash FloodSea Breeze$2M
Apr 15, 2007FloodPort 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.

3hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
20tropical storms
2021most recent: Elsa

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 1985GloriaCategory 2, 95 mph59 mi
Oct 10, 1894UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph60 mi
Sep 16, 1903UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph59 mi
Aug 28, 2011IreneTropical storm, 70 mph58 mi
Jul 13, 1996BerthaTropical storm, 70 mph62 mi
Aug 28, 1971DoriaTropical storm, 70 mph62 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 9, 2021ElsaTropical storm, 60 mph42 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 65 mph44 mi
Jul 10, 2020FayTropical storm, 60 mph56 mi
Aug 28, 2011IreneTropical storm, 70 mph58 mi
Sep 6, 2008HannaTropical storm, 50 mph39 mi
Sep 16, 1999FloydTropical storm, 65 mph62 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 ›
0.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (371 policies)
26.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$12.6 millionpaid on 756 flood claims since 1978
2012costliest year, with $8.6 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 Cumberland County

$221,400median home value (New Jersey $454,400, US $332,700)
1969median year homes were built (New Jersey 1970, US 1980)
68%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
5.3%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; 57,282 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
Gloucester CountyModerate25
Atlantic CountyModerate33
Kent County, DEModerate15
Cape May CountyModerate31
Salem CountyLow23

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.