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Warren County, New Jersey

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

Relatively Low overall risk
18th of 21highest risk in New Jersey
$57Mexpected losses a year
24federal declarations
1 in 91homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$37.5 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.

Cold wave

Moderate
$8 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.
$2.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 6 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate86.5
$37M
Cold waveModerate88.3
$8M
Strong windHigh90.6
$3M
HurricaneLow79.9
$3M
TornadoLow49.7
$2M
Heat waveLow72.2
$1M
DroughtModerate78.4
$1M
EarthquakeLow70.8
$1M
LightningModerate72.7
$717K
Winter weatherModerate83.4
$325K
Ice stormModerate61.0
$185K
HailVery Low14.7
$65K
LandslideLow77.4
$16K
WildfireVery Low23.4
$13K
AvalancheVery Low41.2
$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

Hurricane8
Severe Storm8
Snowstorm4
Drought2
Flood1
Fire1

Most recent

Aug 11, 2023Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2021Remnants of Hurricane IdaMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2021Remnants of Hurricane IdaEmergency
Apr 28, 2021Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2016Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Oct 30, 2012Hurricane SandyMajor disaster
Oct 28, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Nov 30, 2011Severe StormMajor disaster
Oct 14, 2011Remnants of Tropical Storm LeeMajor disaster
Aug 31, 2011Hurricane IreneMajor disaster
Show all 24
Aug 27, 2011Hurricane IreneEmergency
Apr 26, 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 7, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Apr 19, 2005Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 1, 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
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 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.

6tornadoes
34hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
310damaging thunderstorm winds
76floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 26, 1981F2–0 / 0
Nov 19, 1957F1–0 / 0
Jun 29, 1994F1Warren and Morris0 / 0
Jul 21, 1962F0–0 / 0
Jul 26, 1987F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 27, 2006FloodMillbrook$15M
Aug 28, 2011FloodRiegelsville$13M
Sep 16, 1999Flash FloodCountywide$7M
Sep 7, 2011FloodRiegelsville$3M
Apr 15, 2007FloodBroadway$2M
Mar 11, 2011FloodMillbrook$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.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
16tropical storms
2020most recent: Isaias

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 24, 1893UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph59 mi
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph53 mi
Jul 13, 1996BerthaTropical storm, 70 mph52 mi
Sep 16, 1903UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph62 mi
Sep 29, 1874UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph61 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 65 mph39 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 65 mph39 mi
Jul 10, 2020FayTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi
Aug 28, 2011IreneTropical storm, 65 mph61 mi
Sep 6, 2008HannaTropical storm, 50 mph65 mi
Jul 13, 1996BerthaTropical storm, 70 mph52 mi
Aug 28, 1971DoriaTropical storm, 60 mph54 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 ›
1.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (374 policies)
47%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$32.6 millionpaid on 1,273 flood claims since 1978
2005costliest year, with $10.7 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 Warren County

$346,500median home value (New Jersey $454,400, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (New Jersey 1970, US 1980)
60%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
0.9%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; 46,789 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
Bucks County, PAHigh25
Morris CountyModerate30
Northampton County, PAModerate22
Monroe County, PAModerate19
Sussex CountyLow25
Hunterdon CountyLow23

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.