New Jersey natural disasters & FEMA declarations
NJ · 39th most declarations of 51 states/DC
New Jersey has had 59 federally declared disasters since 1955, the 39th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Severe Storm (19 declarations, about 32% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Jones Road Fire" (Fire), on Apr 24, 2025.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for New Jersey, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storm | 19 | 32% |
| Hurricane | 12 | 20% |
| Flood | 8 | 14% |
| Snowstorm | 7 | 12% |
| Fire | 4 | 7% |
| Biological | 2 | 3% |
| Other | 2 | 3% |
| Coastal Storm | 2 | 3% |
| Drought | 2 | 3% |
| Severe Ice Storm | 1 | 2% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Major Disaster (DR) | 43 |
| Emergency (EM) | 13 |
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 3 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How New Jersey's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 1 |
| 1960s | 3 |
| 1970s | 6 |
| 1980s | 3 |
| 1990s | 9 |
| 2000s | 13 |
| 2010s | 16 |
| 2020s | 8 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 2025 | Jones Road Fire | Fire | FM-5581-NJ |
| Aug 11, 2023 | Severe Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | DR-4725-NJ |
| Sep 5, 2021 | Remnants Of Hurricane Ida | Hurricane | DR-4614-NJ |
| Sep 2, 2021 | Remnants Of Hurricane Ida | Hurricane | EM-3573-NJ |
| Apr 28, 2021 | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | DR-4597-NJ |
| Dec 11, 2020 | Tropical Storm Isaias | Hurricane | DR-4574-NJ |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near New Jersey
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to New Jersey in the USGS catalog used here. That does not mean the state has zero seismic risk — smaller earthquakes occur in most states. See our earthquake risk by region guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has New Jersey had?
New Jersey has had 59 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1955, the 39th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in New Jersey?
The most common federally declared disaster type in New Jersey is "Severe Storm", with 19 declarations — about 32% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in New Jersey?
The most recent FEMA declaration in New Jersey in this snapshot was "Jones Road Fire" (Fire), declared Apr 24, 2025.
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18