Somerset County
New Jersey — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 91th
Somerset County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 90.9, 91th national percentile), driven primarily by riverine flood and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $161M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Riverine Flood | High | 6.29 / yr | $126M |
| Winter Weather | High | 12.00 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | High | 6.80 / yr | $4M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.95 / yr | $2M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $7M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 7.42 / yr | $4M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.11 / yr | $5M |
| Lightning | High | 34.15 / yr | $1M |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 0.89 / yr | $4M |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.12 / yr | $5M |
| Drought | Low | 2.88 / yr | $432K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $33K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $7K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.14 / yr | $273 |
| Hail | Very Low | 2.43 / yr | $87K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| 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 Somerset County?
Somerset County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 90.9 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 91th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Somerset County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Riverine Flood (High, $126M EAL), Winter Weather (High, $1M EAL), Strong Wind (High, $4M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Somerset County compare to other New Jersey counties?
Somerset County ranks #15 of 21 New Jersey counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium 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. Somerset County's $161M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.