Flooding in Bergenfield, New Jersey: the flood zone, the record, and what to do
Bergenfield is one of the most populous boroughs in northern Bergen County and one of the least exposed to river flooding. Its flood record is real but spread thin, and it comes from small brooks and storm drainage rather than from a major river.
FEMA counts 163 National Flood Insurance Program claims in Bergenfield and eight repetitive-loss properties, none severe. The Bergen County 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan puts 4.71 per cent of the borough's land in the 1 per cent annual chance flood zone, but 7.77 per cent once the lower-risk 0.2 per cent zone is added, a large jump that marks broad, shallow low ground. The mapped sources are Hirschfeld Brook, its tributary and French's Creek, draining north toward the Hackensack, with Metzler's Brook on the Overpeck side.
The short version
- FEMA records 163 flood insurance claims in Bergenfield, with eight repetitive-loss properties and none severe.
- The Bergen County 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan puts 4.71 per cent of the borough's land in the 1 per cent flood zone and 7.77 per cent including the 0.2 per cent zone.
- FEMA maps Hirschfeld Brook, Hirschfeld Brook Tributary and French's Creek in the borough.
- Cooper Pond has three manual flood gates but is mainly a recreational lake, according to FEMA's flood study.
- Bergenfield plans drainage upgrades and work on blockages at Metzler's Brook.
What the claims record shows
FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program data list 163 claims in the Borough of Bergenfield. The busiest year was 2011, with 28 claims, followed by 2021 with 25, 2007 with 21 and 1984 with 15. By named event, FEMA attributes 27 claims to Hurricane Irene, 22 to Ida, 19 to the April 2007 nor'easter and 12 to Hurricane Floyd. The US Census Bureau counts 28,450 residents in 9,479 housing units, so by our arithmetic that is about 17 claims per 1,000 homes, against roughly 163 in Westwood. FEMA's multiple-loss data, as of 2 August 2026, list eight repetitive-loss properties, none in the severe category. The county plan counts 78 active flood policies in the borough as of October 2024, fewer than one for every 100 homes.
A small 1 per cent zone, a wider 0.2 per cent zone
Table 4.6-1 of the Bergen County 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan measures 87.63 acres of Bergenfield, 4.71 per cent of its land, in FEMA's Special Flood Hazard Area. Another 56.99 acres sit in the 0.2 per cent annual chance zone, bringing the combined share to 7.77 per cent. In Dumont next door the second figure adds less than one point; here it adds more than three. That outer band is land FEMA expects to flood only in a rarer storm, and lenders do not require flood insurance there, but it is where the next big storm is most likely to surprise people. Address-level zones are on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
Two drainage directions
FEMA's countywide Flood Insurance Study maps three flood sources in Bergenfield: Hirschfeld Brook, Hirschfeld Brook Tributary and French's Creek. Hirschfeld Brook runs on through Dumont to the Hackensack River bypass at New Milford, draining about 4.6 square miles. Along the way it passes Cooper Pond, an impoundment of about 10 acres in Bergenfield with a concrete spillway and three manually operated flood gates; the study notes that it may slightly lower peak flows but that its main purpose is recreation. Part of the borough drains the other way, toward Overpeck Creek through Metzlers Creek, and the county plan records that Bergenfield intends to deal with flooding caused by blockages at Metzler's Brook.
What the borough is working on
Bergenfield's entry in the county plan says that since 2021 the borough has concentrated on stormwater management and emergency response, and that over the next five years it plans to improve drainage infrastructure and tackle the Metzler's Brook blockages. That emphasis matches the record: in a borough this densely built, with little mapped flood zone, the water that reaches homes usually arrives through streets and storm drains during intense rain. The county plan lists Bergenfield among the places affected by flooding during Hurricane Irene in August 2011, the storm that produced the borough's largest claim count.
What this means if you own or rent here
Check your address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center, and pay attention to the 0.2 per cent zone as well as the 1 per cent zone. FEMA notes that flooding happens outside high-risk areas and that most homeowners and renters policies do not cover it; a new flood policy normally takes 30 days to take effect. If you are on low ground near Hirschfeld Brook, French's Creek or Metzler's Brook, keep storm drains in front of the house clear of leaves before a storm. The US Census Bureau puts the median year built at 1954 and the renter share at about 29 per cent; renters need their own contents cover. For who to call when water gets in, see our Bergenfield page. Whether a particular loss is covered is decided by your insurer and your policy wording.
Common questions
Does Bergenfield, NJ flood?
Some areas do, but river flooding is limited. FEMA counts 163 flood insurance claims in the borough, most from Irene, Ida and the April 2007 nor'easter, and the county plan puts 4.71 per cent of its land in the 1 per cent annual chance flood zone.
Which brooks flood in Bergenfield?
FEMA's flood study maps Hirschfeld Brook, Hirschfeld Brook Tributary and French's Creek. The county plan also records flooding caused by blockages at Metzler's Brook, which drains toward Overpeck Creek.
Is Cooper Pond a flood-control lake?
Not mainly. FEMA's flood study says Cooper Pond has a concrete spillway and three manually operated flood gates and may slightly reduce peak flows on Hirschfeld Brook, but its primary purpose is as a local recreational facility.
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