FEMA Records
33
Very high volume
New Jersey · FEMA + NOAA + National Risk Index
Essex County, NJ
33 FEMA disaster declarations (1965-2021), with a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively High. Most common hazard: Hurricane.
- 33
- FEMA declarations
- 21
- Major disasters
- 98
- NRI risk · Relatively High
- Hurricane
- Top hazard
The verdict
Two federal records point in the busier direction for Essex County. Its 33 FEMA declarations are 11% above the New Jersey county mean and exceed the count for 91% of the 3,266 counties in this registry. Separately, FEMA's National Risk Index places it in the riskiest 2%, based on modeled expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience.
- Riskiest 2%
- of U.S. counties for FEMA National Risk Index score
- Relatively High
- FEMA National Risk Index rating
- 33
- FEMA declarations vs 21 national county avg
- 5,840
- NFIP flood insurance claims filed
FEMA's National Risk Index and its declaration registry are separate measures. This county's registry includes Major Disaster (DR) and Emergency (EM) records; an EM authorizes a narrower set of federal assistance than a DR.
FEMA OpenFEMA declaration desk
County FIPS 34013 · Essex County 33 declarations · rank 271/3,266
DECL-HEAVY · MAJOR-MID · RANK-UPPER · PHOTO-FINISH · NRI-HIGH · ACT-HIGH · TYPE-LEAD · VS-ST-ABOVE
- DECL-HEAVY 33
- MAJOR-MID 64%
- RANK-UPPER #271
- PHOTO-FINISH Nelson
- NRI-HIGH 98
- ACT-HIGH High
- TYPE-LEAD Hurricane
- VS-ST-ABOVE +11%
Nearest declaration peer: Nelson, ND (0 declaration gap)
FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 filing stamps for this county register. Read with this county → · New Jersey state profile
Essex County among high-volume declaration counties
FEMA declaration records among Essex County and nearest peers by total count
- Los Angeles · largest
Los Angeles · largest
88 declarations
- Essex · this county 33
Essex · this county
33 declarations
- Garvin · near 33
Garvin · near
33 declarations
- Monterey · near 33
Monterey · near
33 declarations
- Nelson · near 33
Nelson · near
33 declarations
- Ujelang · smallest 1
Ujelang · smallest
1 declarations
What this shows Essex County carries 33 FEMA declaration records, ranked 271 of 3,266 counties in this registry.
Where Essex County ranks in the national declaration registry
Essex County vs. high-volume counties in this registry
FEMA disaster declarations, all-time · Essex County
33 Top 9% higher than 91% of 3,266 counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 · 2026-08-25
Essex County's FEMA Risk Index score
Which hazard drives modeled loss here?
FEMA's modeled annual dollar loss for Essex County is led by Riverine Flooding (about $149.3M Expected Annual Loss, Historical Loss Ratio Relatively Moderate), while Heat Wave carries the highest National Risk Index rating (Relatively High). EAL and risk score use different inputs; they need not agree.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025 release) - Expected Annual Loss vs composite risk rating by hazard.
What does Essex County's hazard record show?
Reading the federal records together
FEMA's NFIP table contains a substantial paid-claim history for this county: 5,840 claims and $163.2M in payments. PlainHazard labels 500 or more claims a heavy registry record; that is a reporting bucket, not an official FEMA risk grade. The average paid claim was $27.9K. NFIP totals exclude uninsured flood losses and do not measure how many properties currently carry a policy.
The declaration register points in the busier direction. Essex County's 33 federal records stand 11% above the New Jersey county mean of 29.7. That comparison describes how often federal action was recorded, including any Major Disaster, Emergency, and Fire Management entries shown on this page; it does not convert the count into future probability.
FEMA National Risk Index
This county sits among the highest-risk counties nationally on FEMA's National Risk Index, a composite score of 97.7/100 (Relatively High). Expected Annual Loss is rated Relatively High (roughly $214.1M in annualized losses). Social vulnerability reads Very High and community resilience Relatively Low, both critical modifiers of realized harm here. Of the 18 hazards FEMA models, Heat Wave stands out as the sharpest exposure here, rated Relatively High. FEMA's modeled frequency puts that hazard at 9.3 modeled event-days per year here, based on 144 historical events on record.
74 /100
Historical Activity Index
High historical activity
Essex County, NJ · PlainHazard-derived composite from federal records
This 0–100 index is an explicit PlainHazard composite from FEMA declaration history only on the county surface (this DB has no county-level NOAA damage row) . It is not FEMA's National Risk Index, not a forecast, and not a safety, insurance, or preparedness rating. Open the calculator · Methodology
FEMA Declarations (1953–present) Very High
24/30
33 OpenFEMA declarations, full ingest window (1.6x national county average)
County Disaster Density High
14/25
33 declarations (1.1x state county average of 30)
Major Disaster Share High
16/25
21 of 33 declarations are major disasters (64%)
Hazard Diversity Very High
20/20
8 different disaster types declared in Essex County
FEMA NRI 8-hazard radar - Essex County
How to read this radar
Each axis: NRI risk rating (Very Low-Very High) on a 0-100 scale. Rounder = broad exposure; spiky = one or two hazards dominate.
Major Disaster share
64%
Major-heavy
NRI risk score
98
Relatively High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Per-county per-hazard ratings, December 2025 release
How often does each hazard strike Essex County?
FEMA's National Risk Index models a historical event count and an annualized frequency for each hazard type. Most hazards are expressed as modeled occurrences per year; FEMA expresses drought and heat-wave frequency as event-days per year. These modeled frequencies are not forecasts.
| Hazard | NRI Risk Rating | Recurrence |
|---|---|---|
| Heat Wave | Relatively High | 9.3 modeled event-days per year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively High | an average of 3.1 times per year |
| Strong Wind | Very High | an average of 6.4 times per year |
| Winter Weather | Very High | an average of 11 times per year |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 489 years |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | roughly once every 2 years |
| Tornado | Relatively High | roughly once every 21 years |
| Lightning | Relatively High | an average of 32 times per year |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 9 years |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | an average of 2.4 times per year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 1 years |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | an average of 3.8 times per year |
| Landslide | Very Low | roughly once every 13 years |
| Drought | Very Low | 3 modeled event-days per year |
| Wildfire | Very Low | roughly once every 43,908 years |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Modeled annualized frequency; drought and heat wave use event-days/year, December 2025 release
Disaster Types
Hurricane 10
Severe Storm 6
Flood 6
Snowstorm 4
Biological 2
Other 2
Drought 2
Fire 1
What Hurricane declarations mean here
Hurricane is the most frequent declaration type on Essex County's federal record, 30% of its declarations. Atlantic tropical systems run on a defined season, 1 June to 30 November, with most activity concentrated between August and October; Pacific and territorial basins run on their own calendars. A single named storm routinely produces one declaration number covering a long corridor of counties at once, well inland as well as on the coast, which is why an affected county's count can jump by several in one year without several separate events having occurred.
One practical distinction matters when reading these records: a tropical declaration usually bundles wind, storm surge and inland rainfall flooding under a single incident, but the insurance behind them is split. Wind damage falls to property insurers, while flood and surge damage is covered only under a separate National Flood Insurance Program policy. That is why a county can show heavy declaration activity and a comparatively small NFIP claims record, or the reverse.
Declaration counts describe past federal action. They are a record of what was declared, not a forecast of future hazard probability.
Declaration Types
What DR / EM / FM mean
FEMA categorizes declarations as Major Disasters (DR), Emergencies (EM), or Fire Management Assistance (FM).
Major Disaster - 21 63.6%
of all 33 declarations
Emergency - 12 36.4%
of all 33 declarations
FEMA Declarations Timeline
| Year | Declarations | |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3 | |
| 2020 | 2 | |
| 2018 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 2 | |
| 2012 | 1 | |
| 2011 | 3 | |
| 2010 | 1 | |
| 2007 | 1 | |
| 2005 | 2 | |
| 2003 | 2 | |
| 2001 | 2 | |
| 1999 | 2 | |
| 1996 | 1 | |
| 1993 | 2 | |
Show 7 earlier declaration years
| 1984 | 1 | |
| 1981 | 1 | |
| 1975 | 1 | |
| 1973 | 1 | |
| 1971 | 1 | |
| 1968 | 1 | |
| 1965 | 1 | |
Disaster Declarations
How the 33 FEMA declarations break into federal action codes (DR / EM / FM). Same DISTINCT grain as the table below.
Download these 33 declarations as CSV . FEMA source data is public domain; our derived presentation is CC0.
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4614 | REMNANTS OF HURRICANE IDA | DR | Hurricane | 2021-09-05 |
| 3573 | REMNANTS OF HURRICANE IDA | EM | Hurricane | 2021-09-02 |
| 4574 | TROPICAL STORM ISAIAS | DR | Hurricane | 2020-12-11 |
| 4488 | COVID-19 PANDEMIC | DR | Biological | 2020-03-25 |
| 3451 | COVID-19 | EM | Biological | 2020-03-13 |
| 4368 | SEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORM | DR | Severe Storm | 2018-06-08 |
| 4264 | SEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORM | DR | Severe Storm | 2016-03-14 |
| 4086 | HURRICANE SANDY | DR | Hurricane | 2012-10-30 |
| 3354 | HURRICANE SANDY | EM | Hurricane | 2012-10-28 |
| 4048 | SEVERE STORM | DR | Severe Storm | 2011-11-30 |
| 4021 | HURRICANE IRENE | DR | Hurricane | 2011-08-31 |
| 3332 | HURRICANE IRENE | EM | Hurricane | 2011-08-27 |
| 1954 | SEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORM | DR | Snowstorm | 2011-02-04 |
| 1897 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2010-04-02 |
| 1694 | SEVERE STORMS AND INLAND AND COASTAL FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2007-04-26 |
| 3257 | HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION | EM | Hurricane | 2005-09-19 |
| 1588 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2005-04-19 |
| 3188 | POWER OUTAGE | EM | Other | 2003-09-23 |
| 3181 | SNOW | EM | Snowstorm | 2003-03-20 |
| 3169 | FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS | EM | Fire | 2001-09-19 |
Show 13 earlier declaration records
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3156 | WEST NILE VIRUS | EM | Other | 2000-11-01 |
| 1295 | HURRICANE FLOYD MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATIONS | DR | Hurricane | 1999-09-18 |
| 3148 | HURRICANE FLOYD EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS | EM | Hurricane | 1999-09-17 |
| 1088 | BLIZZARD OF 96 (SEVERE SNOW STORM) | DR | Snowstorm | 1996-01-13 |
| 3106 | SEVERE BLIZZARD | EM | Snowstorm | 1993-03-17 |
| 973 | COASTAL STORM, HIGH TIDES, HEAVY RAIN, & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1992-12-18 |
| 701 | COASTAL STORMS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1984-04-12 |
| 3083 | WATER SHORTAGE | EM | Drought | 1980-10-19 |
| 477 | HEAVY RAINS, HIGH WINDS, HAIL & TORNADOES | DR | Flood | 1975-07-23 |
| 402 | SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1973-08-07 |
| 310 | HEAVY RAINS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1971-09-04 |
| 245 | HEAVY RAINS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1968-06-18 |
| 205 | WATER SHORTAGE | DR | Drought | 1965-08-18 |
Storm Events in New Jersey
Statewide NOAA context only. PlainHazard does not currently attribute these state totals to Essex County.
| Storm Type | Events | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 2,853 | 6 | 27 | $33.9M |
| Winter Weather | 1,141 | 8 | 114 | $0 |
| Flash Flood | 955 | 32 | 7 | $226.8M |
| Coastal Flood | 380 | 0 | 0 | $2.0M |
| Winter Storm | 361 | 11 | 8 | $0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database State-level aggregated data, 2015-2025
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Total Claims
5,840
Total Paid
$163.2M
Avg Per Claim
$27.9K
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA Claims Data
FEMA National Risk Index
Overall Risk
Relatively High
Score: 97.7/100
Expected Annual Loss
Relatively High
$214.1M/year
Social Vulnerability
Very High
Community Resilience
Relatively Low
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Heat Wave Relatively High
Riverine Flooding Relatively High
Strong Wind Very High
Winter Weather Very High
Earthquake Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively High
Tornado Relatively High
Lightning Relatively High
Hurricane Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Coastal Flooding Relatively Moderate
Landslide Very Low
Drought Very Low
Wildfire Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) Ratings reflect relative scores among all US counties. Data: hazards.fema.gov/nri
The model's sharpest exposure here: Heat Wave
Heat Wave is measured in event-days per year rather than discrete events, and it is the hazard whose harm is most consistently undercounted: its toll is health and mortality, concentrated among people without cooling, rather than visible damage to property.
Worth noting for Essex County: the model and the federal record do NOT point at the same hazard. Heat Wave carries the highest modeled rating (Relatively High), while the county's declaration history is led by Hurricane. That is not a contradiction, the two measure genuinely different things. Declarations record federal ACTION, which requires damage costly enough to exceed state and local capacity; the Risk Index models EXPECTED annual loss across all 18 hazards whether or not any declaration ever followed. A hazard can be the county's largest modeled exposure and never once have driven a declaration.
National Risk Index ratings are modeled estimates of expected annual loss, not predictions of what will happen in any given year.
Data-matched county comparisons
Essex County's closest FEMA peer: Dale County, AL
Comparisons use published FEMA declaration fields plus the National Risk Index composite for Essex County. Record similarity, not a safety rating.
Closest declaration profiles
Essex County shows 33 FEMA declarations, led by Hurricane.
Similar Major-disaster share
Essex County: 21 of 33 of its declarations are Major.
Similar modeled NRI score
Essex County: NRI composite 97.7 (Relatively High).
How these peers are chosen
Cohort: Published U.S. county equivalents outside the source state or territory. Each metric keeps six ETL candidates; three unique destinations are shown after de-duplicating across axes. Declaration-volume ranking combines count and Major-disaster share and prefers a different leading incident type; Major-share ranks the Major fraction adjusted for volume; NRI ranks the modeled composite score only.
Retained FEMA snapshot feed for Essex County - capture-dated entries only.
Compare beyond this state
Nationwide peers by NRI score & FEMA declaration volume
Two PlainHazard-derived comparison paths for Essex County: nearest out-of-state National Risk Index composite and nearest FEMA declaration count (floor ≥5 records). Record similarity only, not a forecast of the next hazard.
Similar NRI composite
Nearest out-of-state counties by FEMA NRI score. This county: 97.7 (Relatively High).
Similar declaration volume
Nearest out-of-state counties by FEMA declaration count. This county: 33. NRI peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.
Further reading for this county
Understanding disaster data
Essex County's NFIP claims file (5,840 claims) and FEMA declaration history measure different federal records - this guide separates them from modeled NRI risk.
More PlainHazard guides
- Most disaster-prone counties - U.S. counties ranked by FEMA declaration totals.
- Understanding disaster data - declarations vs storm events vs NRI scores.
- Preparing for natural disasters - household checklist (not county-specific advice).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common disaster type in Essex County?
The most common disaster type in Essex County is Hurricane, with 10 declarations. Other disaster types include Severe Storm (6), Flood (6), Snowstorm (4).
How does Essex County's FEMA declaration record compare with the New Jersey average?
FEMA lists 33 declaration records for Essex County. That is 11% above the New Jersey county mean of 29.7. Its count is also 59% above the national county mean of 20.7. A larger declaration history records more federal actions; it is not a forecast of the county's next hazard.
How many major FEMA disaster declarations has Essex County received?
Essex County has received 21 major disaster declarations, representing 64% of all 33 disaster declarations.
How many flood insurance claims has Essex County filed?
Essex County has 5,840 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims totaling $163.2M in payments, with an average of $27.9K per claim.
Does FEMA's top risk-rated hazard match the highest Expected Annual Loss in Essex County?
No. In Essex County, Heat Wave has the highest National Risk Index rating (Relatively High), while Riverine Flooding leads Expected Annual Loss at about $149.3M. FEMA's risk score and dollar-loss model use different inputs, so the leaders often differ.
What was the worst year for disasters in Essex County?
The most active year for disaster declarations in Essex County was 2011, with 3 declarations. The county has FEMA disaster data spanning 1965 to 2021.
What is the FEMA National Risk Index score for Essex County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, Essex County, New Jersey has an overall risk score of 97.7 out of 100 (Relatively High). Social vulnerability here rates Very High, while community resilience comes in at Relatively Low. The Expected Annual Loss (EAL) score is Relatively High, representing $214.1M in annualized losses.
Which natural hazard poses the greatest risk to Essex County?
Based on FEMA NRI data, the highest-risk natural hazard in Essex County as of the latest release is Heat Wave (risk rating: Relatively High). Other significant hazards include Riverine Flooding (Relatively High) and Strong Wind (Very High). FEMA's modeled event frequency puts heat wave here at 9.3 modeled event-days per year, drawn from 144 historical events on record. The underlying methodology weighs historical event frequency against exposed assets and community vulnerability.
Data Sources & Methodology
Disaster declaration data comes from the FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 API, which includes all federally declared disasters, emergencies, and fire management assistance grants.
Storm event data is sourced from the NOAA Storm Events Database (2015-2025), which tracks significant weather events including thunderstorms, tornadoes, floods, and winter storms.
Flood insurance data comes from the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA claims dataset.
This data is provided for informational purposes only. FEMA disaster declarations represent federal response actions and may not capture all local emergencies or weather events.
FEMA OpenFEMA declarations + NRI for Essex County · vintage 2026-08-25 · Methodology · New Jersey profile · Verify with FEMA OpenFEMA · Verify with NOAA Storm Events