Passaic County
New Jersey — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 96th
Passaic County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 95.8, 96th national percentile), driven primarily by strong wind and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $149M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Strong Wind | Very High | 5.58 / yr | $6M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 3.50 / yr | $111M |
| Lightning | Very High | 31.45 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 13.12 / yr | $883K |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 7.00 / yr | $6M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $8M |
| Cold Wave | High | 0.95 / yr | $6M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.07 / yr | $5M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.09 / yr | $4M |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.88 / yr | $214K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.28 / yr | $4K |
| Drought | Low | 2.52 / yr | $84K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $1K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $4K |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.40 / yr | $41K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $14 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Passaic County?
Passaic County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 95.8 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 96th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Passaic County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Strong Wind (Very High, $6M EAL), Riverine Flood (High, $111M EAL), Lightning (Very High, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Passaic County compare to other New Jersey counties?
Passaic County ranks #7 of 21 New Jersey counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Passaic County's $149M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.