Warren County, New Jersey
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Warren County, New Jersey has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 81% of US counties. It ranks 18th of 21 counties in New Jersey. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $57 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $523 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2023 (severe storm and flooding). About 1 in 91 homes here carry federal flood insurance (374 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $33 million on 1,273 claims here, including $11 million for floods in 2005.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Warren 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.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 86.5 | $37M | ||
| Cold wave | 88.3 | $8M | ||
| Strong wind | 90.6 | $3M | ||
| Hurricane | 79.9 | $3M | ||
| Tornado | 49.7 | $2M | ||
| Heat wave | 72.2 | $1M | ||
| Drought | 78.4 | $1M | ||
| Earthquake | 70.8 | $1M | ||
| Lightning | 72.7 | $717K | ||
| Winter weather | 83.4 | $325K | ||
| Ice storm | 61.0 | $185K | ||
| Hail | 14.7 | $65K | ||
| Landslide | 77.4 | $16K | ||
| Wildfire | 23.4 | $13K | ||
| Avalanche | 41.2 | $371 |
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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Warren County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 24
New Jersey also had 3 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1956
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 478 storm reports in Warren County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 21 injuries and about $41.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on October 26, 1981.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26, 1981 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 19, 1957 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 29, 1994 | F1 | Warren and Morris | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 21, 1962 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 26, 1987 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 27, 2006 | Flood | Millbrook | $15M |
| Aug 28, 2011 | Flood | Riegelsville | $13M |
| Sep 16, 1999 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $7M |
| Sep 7, 2011 | Flood | Riegelsville | $3M |
| Apr 15, 2007 | Flood | Broadway | $2M |
| Mar 11, 2011 | Flood | Millbrook | $700K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 28, 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 1863, 2 hurricanes and 16 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Warren County, 8 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1893, with top winds near 85 mph about 59 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 24, 1893 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 59 mi |
| Oct 23, 1878 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 53 mi |
| Jul 13, 1996 | Bertha | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 52 mi |
| Sep 16, 1903 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 62 mi |
| Sep 29, 1874 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 61 mi |
| Aug 4, 2020 | Isaias | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 39 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 4, 2020 | Isaias | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 39 mi |
| Jul 10, 2020 | Fay | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 59 mi |
| Aug 28, 2011 | Irene | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 61 mi |
| Sep 6, 2008 | Hanna | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 65 mi |
| Jul 13, 1996 | Bertha | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 52 mi |
| Aug 28, 1971 | Doria | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 54 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 Warren 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 Warren 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; 46,789 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bucks County, PA | 25 | |
| Morris County | 30 | |
| Northampton County, PA | 22 | |
| Monroe County, PA | 19 | |
| Sussex County | 25 | |
| Hunterdon County | 23 |
Common questions about Warren County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Warren County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Warren County, about $37.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $8 million.
How many federal disasters has Warren County had?
Warren County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storm and Flooding in August 2023.
Is Warren County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 18th 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 Warren County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 91 homes in Warren 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 Warren County had?
NOAA records list 6 tornadoes in Warren County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on October 26, 1981. The weather service has also logged 34 hail reports and 76 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Warren County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 16 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Warren County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1893, with winds near 85 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.