FEMA Records
26
High volume
New Jersey · FEMA + NOAA + National Risk Index
Salem County, NJ
26 FEMA disaster declarations (1965-2021), with a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low. Most common hazard: Hurricane.
- 26
- FEMA declarations
- 15
- Major disasters
- 77
- NRI risk · Relatively Low
- Hurricane
- Top hazard
The verdict
Salem County has a nationally busy FEMA history: 26 declarations, more than 75% of counties in this registry. But the state comparison tempers that reading: the total is 12% below the New Jersey county mean. FEMA's separate National Risk Index places the county in the riskiest 23%; that score models loss and vulnerability rather than counting declarations.
- Riskiest 23%
- of U.S. counties for FEMA National Risk Index score
- Relatively Low
- FEMA National Risk Index rating
- 26
- FEMA declarations vs 21 national county avg
- 824
- 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 34033 · Salem County 26 declarations · rank 761/3,266
DECL-HEAVY · MAJOR-MID · RANK-MID · PHOTO-FINISH · NRI-LOW · ACT-HIGH · TYPE-LEAD · VS-ST-BELOW
- DECL-HEAVY 26
- MAJOR-MID 58%
- RANK-MID #761
- PHOTO-FINISH Hunterdon
- NRI-LOW 77
- ACT-HIGH High
- TYPE-LEAD Hurricane
- VS-ST-BELOW -12%
Nearest declaration peer: Hunterdon, NJ (0 declaration gap)
FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 filing stamps for this county register. Read with this county → · New Jersey state profile
Salem County among high-volume declaration counties
FEMA declaration records among Salem County and nearest peers by total count
- Los Angeles · largest
Los Angeles · largest
88 declarations
- Hunterdon · near 26
Hunterdon · near
26 declarations
- Pierce · near 26
Pierce · near
26 declarations
- Salem · this county 26
Salem · this county
26 declarations
- San Sebastián · near 26
San Sebastián · near
26 declarations
- Ujelang · smallest 1
Ujelang · smallest
1 declarations
What this shows Salem County carries 26 FEMA declaration records, ranked 761 of 3,266 counties in this registry.
Where Salem County ranks in the national declaration registry
Salem County vs. high-volume counties in this registry
FEMA disaster declarations, all-time · Salem County
26 Top 25% higher than 75% 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
Salem County's FEMA Risk Index score
Which hazard drives modeled loss here?
FEMA's modeled annual dollar loss for Salem County is led by Riverine Flooding (about $14.4M Expected Annual Loss, Historical Loss Ratio Very Low), while Coastal Flooding carries the highest National Risk Index rating (Very 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 Salem County's hazard record show?
Reading the federal records together
FEMA's NFIP table contains a substantial paid-claim history for this county: 824 claims and $9.2M 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 $11.1K. NFIP totals exclude uninsured flood losses and do not measure how many properties currently carry a policy.
Start with the state benchmark: a New Jersey county averages 29.7 federal declaration records, while Salem County has 26. The gap is 12% below that mean. Fewer entries indicate a quieter history of recorded federal actions, not immunity from a hazard and not a prediction about what happens next.
FEMA National Risk Index
This county sits among the highest-risk counties nationally on FEMA's National Risk Index, a composite score of 76.5/100 (Relatively Low). Expected Annual Loss is rated Relatively Low (roughly $40.1M in annualized losses). Social vulnerability reads Relatively Low and community resilience Very High, both critical modifiers of realized harm here. Of the 18 hazards FEMA models, Coastal Flooding stands out as the sharpest exposure here, rated Very High. FEMA's modeled frequency puts that hazard at an average of 3.7 times per year here.
64 /100
Historical Activity Index
High historical activity
Salem 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) High
19/30
26 OpenFEMA declarations, full ingest window (1.3x national county average)
County Disaster Density Moderate
11/25
26 declarations (0.9x state county average of 30)
Major Disaster Share High
14/25
15 of 26 declarations are major disasters (58%)
Hazard Diversity Very High
20/20
9 different disaster types declared in Salem County
FEMA NRI 8-hazard radar - Salem 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
58%
Major-heavy
NRI risk score
77
Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Per-county per-hazard ratings, December 2025 release
How often does each hazard strike Salem 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal Flooding | Very High | an average of 3.7 times per year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | an average of 6.2 times per year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | an average of 1.1 times per year |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | an average of 10 times per year |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | roughly once every 607 years |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 7.2 modeled event-days per year |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | roughly once every 10 years |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 5.8 modeled event-days per year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | an average of 1.5 times per year |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | roughly once every 1,096 years |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | an average of 34 times per year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | an average of 2.2 times per year |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | roughly once every 1 years |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | roughly once every 6 years |
| Landslide | Very Low | roughly once every 16 years |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Modeled annualized frequency; drought and heat wave use event-days/year, December 2025 release
Disaster Types
Hurricane 9
Snowstorm 5
Flood 3
Biological 2
Severe Storm 2
Drought 2
Fire 1
Other 1
Severe Ice Storm 1
What Hurricane declarations mean here
Hurricane is the most frequent declaration type on Salem County's federal record, 35% 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 - 15 57.7%
of all 26 declarations
Emergency - 11 42.3%
of all 26 declarations
FEMA Declarations Timeline
| Year | Declarations | |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3 | |
| 2020 | 2 | |
| 2013 | 2 | |
| 2012 | 1 | |
| 2011 | 3 | |
| 2010 | 2 | |
| 2005 | 1 | |
| 2003 | 1 | |
| 2001 | 2 | |
| 1999 | 1 | |
| 1996 | 1 | |
| 1993 | 2 | |
| 1981 | 1 | |
| 1977 | 1 | |
| 1975 | 1 | |
Show 2 earlier declaration years
| 1971 | 1 | |
| 1965 | 1 | |
Disaster Declarations
How the 26 FEMA declarations break into federal action codes (DR / EM / FM). Same DISTINCT grain as the table below.
Download these 26 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 |
| 4086 | HURRICANE SANDY | DR | Hurricane | 2012-10-30 |
| 3354 | HURRICANE SANDY | EM | Hurricane | 2012-10-28 |
| 4070 | SEVERE STORMS AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS | DR | Severe Storm | 2012-07-19 |
| 4033 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2011-09-15 |
| 4021 | HURRICANE IRENE | DR | Hurricane | 2011-08-31 |
| 3332 | HURRICANE IRENE | EM | Hurricane | 2011-08-27 |
| 1889 | SEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORM | DR | Snowstorm | 2010-03-23 |
| 1873 | SNOWSTORM | DR | Snowstorm | 2010-02-05 |
| 3257 | HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION | EM | Hurricane | 2005-09-19 |
| 3181 | SNOW | EM | Snowstorm | 2003-03-20 |
| 3169 | FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS | EM | Fire | 2001-09-19 |
| 3156 | WEST NILE VIRUS | EM | Other | 2000-11-01 |
| 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 |
Show 6 earlier declaration records
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 973 | COASTAL STORM, HIGH TIDES, HEAVY RAIN, & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1992-12-18 |
| 3083 | WATER SHORTAGE | EM | Drought | 1980-10-19 |
| 528 | ICE CONDITIONS | DR | Severe Ice Storm | 1977-02-08 |
| 477 | HEAVY RAINS, HIGH WINDS, HAIL & TORNADOES | DR | Flood | 1975-07-23 |
| 310 | HEAVY RAINS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1971-09-04 |
| 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 Salem 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
824
Total Paid
$9.2M
Avg Per Claim
$11.1K
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA Claims Data
FEMA National Risk Index
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Score: 76.5/100
Expected Annual Loss
Relatively Low
$40.1M/year
Social Vulnerability
Relatively Low
Community Resilience
Very High
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Coastal Flooding Very High
Strong Wind Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively High
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Earthquake Relatively Low
Drought Relatively Moderate
Hurricane Relatively Low
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Riverine Flooding Relatively Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively Low
Hail Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Tornado Relatively Low
Landslide 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: Coastal Flooding
Coastal Flooding is modeled separately from riverine flooding because its driver is different: surge, tide and wave action rather than a watershed draining. It is also the hazard whose baseline is moving, since the same storm rides on a higher starting sea level than it used to.
For Salem County the two measures on this page point the same way: Coastal Flooding is the county's highest-rated modeled hazard (Very High), and Hurricane declarations also lead its federal record. Where the model and the declaration history agree, the reading is comparatively straightforward, the hazard is both expected and repeatedly realised.
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
Salem County's closest FEMA peer: Macon County, AL
Comparisons use published FEMA declaration fields plus the National Risk Index composite for Salem County. Record similarity, not a safety rating.
Closest declaration profiles
Salem County shows 26 FEMA declarations, led by Hurricane.
Similar Major-disaster share
Salem County: 15 of 26 of its declarations are Major.
Similar modeled NRI score
Salem County: NRI composite 76.5 (Relatively Low).
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 Salem County - capture-dated entries only.
Compare beyond this state
Nationwide peers by NRI score & FEMA declaration volume
Two PlainHazard-derived comparison paths for Salem 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: 76.5 (Relatively Low).
Similar declaration volume
Nearest out-of-state counties by FEMA declaration count. This county: 26. NRI peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.
Further reading for this county
Understanding disaster data
Salem County's NFIP claims file (824 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 Salem County?
The most common disaster type in Salem County is Hurricane, with 9 declarations. Other disaster types include Snowstorm (5), Flood (3), Biological (2).
How does Salem County's FEMA declaration record compare with the New Jersey average?
The typical New Jersey county has 29.7 FEMA declaration records; Salem County has 26, or 12% fewer. Against the national county mean of 20.7, this county's total is 25% higher. The comparison is historical and says nothing about the probability of a future event.
How many major FEMA disaster declarations has Salem County received?
Salem County has received 15 major disaster declarations, representing 58% of all 26 disaster declarations.
How many flood insurance claims has Salem County filed?
Salem County has 824 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims totaling $9.2M in payments, with an average of $11.1K per claim.
Does FEMA's top risk-rated hazard match the highest Expected Annual Loss in Salem County?
No. In Salem County, Coastal Flooding has the highest National Risk Index rating (Very High), while Riverine Flooding leads Expected Annual Loss at about $14.4M. FEMA's risk score and dollar-loss model use different inputs, so the leaders often differ.
What was the worst year for disasters in Salem County?
The most active year for disaster declarations in Salem 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 Salem County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, Salem County, New Jersey has an overall risk score of 76.5 out of 100 (Relatively Low). Social vulnerability here rates Relatively Low, while community resilience comes in at Very High. The Expected Annual Loss (EAL) score is Relatively Low, representing $40.1M in annualized losses.
Which natural hazard poses the greatest risk to Salem County?
The top hazard flagged by FEMA's NRI for Salem County as of the latest release is Coastal Flooding (risk rating: Very High). Other significant hazards include Strong Wind (Relatively High) and Ice Storm (Relatively High). FEMA's modeled event frequency puts coastal flooding here at an average of 3.7 times per year. FEMA derives these ratings from historical event frequency, the assets exposed, and the community's vulnerability profile.
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 Salem County · vintage 2026-08-25 · Methodology · New Jersey profile · Verify with FEMA OpenFEMA · Verify with NOAA Storm Events