Salem County, NJ
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Salem 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.
Salem County's highest-rated hazards are coastal flooding, strong wind, and ice storm, with its top risk rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 26 storm events in the county over the past decade.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Salem County has been designated in 26 declarations since 1965, covering 9 disaster types including hurricane (9), snowstorm (5), flood (3).
| 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 |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 | Relatively Low | 68.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 69.8 | 8 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Very High | 95.8 | 8 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 79.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 76.5 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 35.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 76.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 44.2 | 6 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 92.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 83.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 88.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 42.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 45.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 79.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 20.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Insufficient Data | — | — | — | — |
| 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
Salem County ranks in the 67th percentile (Moderate) 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 | 67th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 61st | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 71st | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 64th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 58th | Moderate |
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 | 46th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 49th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 51.2% | — |
NOAA tracked 26 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 14 in 2016–20 vs 12 in 2021–25 (-14% — frequency decreasing).
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 Salem County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Salem County, New Jersey are coastal flooding, strong wind, and ice storm. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Salem County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Salem 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 Salem County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Salem County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Remnants Of Hurricane Ida in 2021.
How does Salem County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, New Castle County, DE has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Cecil County, MD has the lowest (Relatively Low). Salem County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Salem County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Salem 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. Salem County's composite score of 77 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 77% of US counties.