Essex County, NJ
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Essex County has experienced 33 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Remnants Of Hurricane Ida in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties.
Essex County's highest-rated hazards are heat wave, inland flooding, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 84 storm events in the county over the past decade. Community vulnerability is elevated (94th percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Essex County has been designated in 33 declarations since 1965, covering 8 disaster types including hurricane (10), severe storm (6), flood (6).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Isaias |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 33 total declarations since 1965.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 10.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively High | 98.8 | 75 | 5 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 65.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | 95.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High | 99 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively High | 94.9 | 1 | 0 | $330K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 91.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 86.8 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very High | 98.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 97 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 78.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 95.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 92.3 | 1 | 0 | $10K |
| Drought | Very Low | 25.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 50.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Essex County ranks in the 94th percentile (High) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 94th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 90th | High |
| Household characteristics | 76th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 96th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 95th | High |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 17th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 17th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 17.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 84 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 40 in 2016–20 vs 44 in 2021–25 (+10% — relatively stable).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Essex County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Essex County, New Jersey are heat wave, inland flooding, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively High — higher risk than most US counties.
Has Essex County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Essex County has received 33 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (10 declarations).
Has Essex County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Essex County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Remnants Of Hurricane Ida in 2021.
How does Essex County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, New York County, NY has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Richmond County, NY has the lowest (Relatively Moderate). Essex County is rated Relatively High overall.
How is Essex County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Essex County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Essex County's composite score of 98 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 98% of US counties.