New Jersey
Hurricane Sandy destroyed the Jersey Shore in 2012. Tropical Storm Ida drowned 30 people in basement apartments in 2021. New Jersey's dense population, aging infrastructure, and dual exposure to ocean surge and inland flooding make every storm a multiplier.
Enter your New Jersey ZIP for live alerts, forecasts, and county-specific data.
Know your region
Sandy Hook to Cape May, Long Beach Island, Atlantic City, the barrier islands. Hurricane Sandy (2012) caused $30 billion in damage and reshaped the coastline. Nor'easters erode beaches every winter. Sea-level rise is accelerating. The barrier islands are vulnerable to breach during major storms.
Primary hazards: hurricanes, storm surge, coastal erosion, nor'easters
Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, the Passaic River basin. Tropical Storm Ida (2021) killed 30 people here, mostly from flash flooding in basement apartments and vehicles. The Passaic River floods regularly. Urban storm sewers are overwhelmed during heavy rain.
Primary hazards: flash flooding, hurricanes, severe storms, heat
Trenton, Princeton, Cherry Hill, the Pine Barrens, the Delaware River corridor. River flooding from the Delaware and Raritan affects communities after heavy rain. The Pine Barrens face wildfire risk during dry conditions. Tornadoes occasionally touch down across the interior.
Primary hazards: flooding, severe storms, wildfire, tornadoes
Your hazard profile
Each links to a full guide with during-event protocol, recovery steps, and resources specific to NJ.
Sandy (2012) caused $30 billion in damage and destroyed thousands of homes. Ida (2021) killed 30 people from inland flooding. The combination of storm surge and river flooding during tropical systems is uniquely deadly in New Jersey.
Read the hurricanes guide →
New Jersey is one of the most flood-prone states. Ida (2021) killed people in basement apartments and vehicles. Urban sewers overflow during heavy rain. Tidal flooding increases along the coast. Never shelter in a below-grade apartment during flash floods.
Read the flooding guide →
Nor'easters bring heavy snow, ice, and coastal flooding. Northern New Jersey receives significant snowfall. Coastal erosion during winter storms is ongoing. Ice storms cause widespread power outages.
Read the nor'easters guide →
Severe storms bring straight-line winds, hail, and 3 to 5 tornadoes per year. The dense population means even small tornadoes cause significant damage. Lightning is a summer risk statewide.
Read the severe thunderstorms guide →
Newark, Jersey City, and Paterson experience amplified summer heat. High humidity makes heat dangerous. Power demand during heat events strains an aging grid.
Read the urban heat guide →
New Jersey resources
New Jersey Office of Emergency Management. Coordinates disaster response and manages the state's emergency alert system.
New Jersey forecasts. Severe weather warnings, coastal flood advisories, and winter storm alerts.
New Jersey's official emergency notification system. Register for location-specific alerts including flood warnings, severe weather, and evacuation orders.
Statewide referral service. Disaster recovery, energy assistance, food banks, and housing resources.
September 1, 2021
On September 1, 2021, the remnants of Hurricane Ida dropped historic rainfall across New Jersey. In Elizabeth, Newark, and the Passaic River basin, water rose so fast that people could not escape from basement apartments. Thirty people died in New Jersey, many of them in below-grade dwellings and vehicles trapped on flooded roads.
Ida was not a hurricane when it hit New Jersey. It was a tropical remnant. The wind was not the problem. The rain was. Urban storm sewers designed for 2 inches of rain per hour received 3 to 4. The system failed. Water had nowhere to go but down, into basements, underpasses, and subway stations.
For every New Jersey household, the Ida lesson is about where you are when it floods. Basement apartments are death traps during flash floods. Underpasses fill faster than you can drive through them. If you live below grade, have a plan to move upstairs when heavy rain is forecast. If you see standing water on a road, turn around.