Hunterdon County, NJ
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Hunterdon County has experienced 26 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Remnants Of Hurricane Ida in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Hunterdon County's highest-rated hazards are strong wind, inland flooding, and ice storm, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 16% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (4th percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Hunterdon County has been designated in 26 declarations since 1965, covering 8 disaster types including hurricane (9), severe storm (7), snowstorm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Hurricane | Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
Showing the 10 most recent of 26 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 | 26.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 86.8 | 43 | 6 | $5.0M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 75.5 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 72.1 | 10 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 51.4 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 74.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 18.4 | 10 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 96.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 81.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 86.2 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 47.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 65.8 | 4 | 0 | $5K |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 73 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 49.4 | 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
Hunterdon County ranks in the 4th percentile (Very low) 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 | 4th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 4th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 6th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 47th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 8th | Very low |
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 | 20th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 20th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 86.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 69 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 32 in 2016–20 vs 37 in 2021–25 (+16% — frequency increasing).
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 Hunterdon County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Hunterdon County, New Jersey are strong wind, inland flooding, and ice storm. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Hunterdon County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Hunterdon County has received 26 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (9 declarations).
Has Hunterdon County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Hunterdon County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Remnants Of Hurricane Ida in 2021.
How does Hunterdon County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Middlesex County, NJ has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Warren County, NJ has the lowest (Relatively Low). Hunterdon County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Hunterdon County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Hunterdon 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. Hunterdon County's composite score of 79 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 79% of US counties.