Natural Disasters in New Jersey: History & Risk Data
23,710 recorded disaster events across 577 ZIP codes.
State Statistics
Event Timeline
Hazard Breakdown
Most Affected ZIP Codes in New Jersey
📊 New Jersey Disaster Profile
New Jersey has experienced 23,710 documented natural disaster events across its 577 ZIP codes. The cumulative documented property damage stands at $291B. A total of 11,799 fatalities have been attributed to natural disasters in the state.
⚠️ Hazard Distribution
Hailstorms lead New Jersey's disaster profile with 8,870 events (37%), causing $72.2M in property damage. Other significant hazards include floods (4,390 events, $256.2B in damages), blizzards (3,124 events, $2.1B in damages), and extreme heat events (2,929 events, $550K in damages). New Jersey has no recorded hurricanes in the dataset.
📍 Geographic Impact
The most disaster-affected areas in New Jersey include ZIP 08057 (175 events, $66.2M in damages), ZIP 08086 (170 events, $36.7M in damages), and ZIP 08109 (163 events, $77M in damages).
📈 Trends Over Time
Disaster frequency in New Jersey has increased markedly over time. The average annual event count in recent decades is roughly 793% higher than in earlier periods of the record. The year 2011 stands out as particularly active, with 1,752 events recorded — likely driven by a major weather system or disaster season.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions — New Jersey
What natural disasters occur in New Jersey?
New Jersey has experienced 23,710 documented natural disaster events. The hazard types recorded include hailstorms (8,870), floods (4,390), blizzards (3,124), extreme heat events (2,929), tornadoes (1,862), severe wind events (1,805), extreme cold events (532), earthquakes (190), and wildfires (8). The most common hazard is hailstorms, accounting for 37% of all events.
What are the most disaster-prone areas in New Jersey?
Based on historical records, the most disaster-affected ZIP codes in New Jersey are ZIP 08057 (175 events), ZIP 08086 (170 events), ZIP 08109 (163 events), ZIP 08002 (163 events), and ZIP 08110 (163 events). These areas have the highest concentration of recorded natural disaster events in the state.
How much damage have natural disasters caused in New Jersey?
Natural disasters have caused a documented $291B in property damage across New Jersey. This total is based on records from FEMA, NOAA, and USGS, covering events from the 1950s onward. The actual figure is likely higher, as not all events have complete damage records.
About This Data
State-level data aggregated from FEMA (disaster declarations, NFIP flood claims), NOAA Storm Events Database, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, and NIFC wildfire records. Historical coverage varies by source, with most records beginning in the 1950s–1970s. Full methodology →