Flooding in Moonachie, New Jersey: the flood zone, the record, and what to do
Moonachie is a small borough with almost no high ground. Its flood risk is a matter of elevation, ditches and tide gates, and the federal and state records describe each of them plainly.
Bergen County's 2026 hazard mitigation plan places 77.2 per cent of Moonachie in the 1 per cent annual chance flood zone, and the state recovery report describes the borough as a natural bowl averaging about 3 feet above sea level. FEMA counts 374 flood insurance claims for its 1,124 homes, most from Hurricane Sandy, when berms were overtopped and failed pumps left water standing for days. The borough also floods in ordinary heavy rain, because its ditches drain to Berry's Creek through tide gates.
The short version
- Moonachie is a natural bowl averaging about 3 feet above sea level, according to the state recovery report.
- The county hazard mitigation plan puts 77.2 per cent of the borough in the 1 per cent annual chance flood zone.
- FEMA counts 374 flood insurance claims, 113 of them filed under the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission community.
- Sandy's surge stayed above seven feet for six hours; failed pumps left water standing for days.
- Ordinary storms flood parts of the borough: a two-inch autumn rain flooded critical areas.
A bowl with no high ground
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs' Strategic Recovery Planning Report for Moonachie notes something unusual among Meadowlands towns: the borough lies in a natural bowl with no upland areas, at an average elevation of about 3 feet above sea level. The Bergen County 2026 Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, Table 4.6-1, puts 860.46 of its 1,115.07 acres, or 77.17 per cent, in the FEMA 1 per cent annual chance flood zone, rising to 80.78 per cent with the 0.2 per cent zone. The state report, working from preliminary maps released in 2014, put the figure as high as 98 per cent. Either way, the flood zone is the normal condition here rather than the exception. The report also notes that most of Teterboro Airport's land lies inside Moonachie, holding much of the borough's remaining wetland, and that water from the airport is pumped through the borough during floods.
How the water gets in and out
Three drainage systems carry Moonachie's water: Losen Slote Creek, shared with Little Ferry, and the East and West Riser ditches, shared with Teterboro. All of them discharge to Berry's Creek, which US EPA describes as a 6.5-mile tributary of the Hackensack River. None of these waterways ends in Moonachie, but all of them pass through it. Where they meet tidal water, tide gates hold the tide back; a new West Riser tide gate on the Moonachie and Wood-Ridge border, which the state said protects properties including Teterboro Airport from daily tidal flooding, was unveiled in July 2014 and is maintained by Bergen County. The state report also describes earthen berms built nearly a century ago, some for mosquito control, typically no more than five to seven feet above sea level and without structural reinforcement.
Sandy, and the days afterwards
The state report records Sandy's surge peaking at 9.5 feet above mean sea level and staying above seven feet for six hours. The berms were breached and overtopped almost at once. All three of the borough's sanitary stations were badly damaged and its pump stations failed, so with the power out and the drainage system overwhelmed the water stood for days. The report cites a figure of 62 per cent of properties and houses damaged, and residents surveyed described damage mainly to basements and first floors. The two mobile home communities south of Moonachie Avenue, opposite the airport, were devastated. The county hazard mitigation plan describes Moonachie, Little Ferry and Carlstadt as inundated with 4 to 5 feet of water when the surge overtopped the levees.
The claim record
FEMA files 261 National Flood Insurance Program claims under the Borough of Moonachie and a further 113 from ZIP 07074 under the separate New Jersey Meadowlands Commission community, a total of 374. (The borough's hub page cites 371 claims by ZIP code, a slightly different count.) Under the borough's own community, 178 claims date from 2012 and FEMA ties 178 to Sandy. Irene accounts for 18, Ida for 15 and a December 1992 nor'easter for 10. FEMA's multiple-loss data, as of 2 August 2026, list 12 repetitive-loss properties, 2 of them severe repetitive loss. The county plan shows 128 active NFIP policies in October 2024. The US Census Bureau counts 3,126 residents in 1,124 homes, about 23 per cent rented, with a median build year of 1966.
Ordinary storms matter too
Sandy is the extreme, but the state report is clear that regular flooding occurs in parts of the borough during average rainfall, and that an autumn rain of two inches flooded critical areas. The cause is capacity: over 50 years many ponds and wetlands were filled and ditches rerouted, and the report found many channels silted up. A further concern is what floodwater carries. The report counts 73 active, pending and remediated contaminated sites in Moonachie identified by EPA and NJDEP, and treats dispersal of contamination as a flood hazard. Work is under way. The borough and county designed check valves for storm outflows at ten locations, mostly along Losen Slote, and the Rebuild by Design Meadowlands programme includes channel improvements and bridge replacements in Moonachie and Carlstadt to enlarge the East Riser Ditch. The county plan estimates all of Moonachie's critical facilities would be exposed with three feet of sea level rise.
What this means if you own or rent here
Check your address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center, but expect it to be in or next to the flood zone. Treat a high tide combined with steady rain as a warning in its own right, and keep the basement and first floor ready to clear. If the power goes out during a flood, plan on the water staying until pumps are running again. Because floodwater here can carry contamination, wear gloves and boots, and remove porous materials that it soaked. Owners of manufactured homes should note how the 2012 surge treated the borough's two parks. A flood policy is separate from homeowners or renters insurance, and FEMA states that a new one normally takes effect after 30 days. Whether a particular loss is covered is decided by your insurer and your policy wording.
Common questions
Does Moonachie, NJ flood?
Yes. More than three-quarters of the borough is in the FEMA high-risk zone and FEMA records 374 flood insurance claims there. Sandy flooded most of the borough, and heavy rain alone can flood low areas.
Why does Moonachie flood in ordinary rain?
Its ditches drain to Berry's Creek through tide gates, and the state report found many channels silted and wetlands filled. When rain coincides with high water, there is nowhere for it to go.
Where does Moonachie's water drain?
Through Losen Slote Creek and the East and West Riser ditches, which all discharge to Berry's Creek, a tributary of the Hackensack River.
Find out who to call
Answer a few questions about what happened. You get the safety steps and the right trade whether or not you leave contact details.
Two referral lines cover this area. We have not vetted an individual company, and we will not route you to one whose coverage and registration we have not checked.
A pipe, water heater, sump pump or drain
Something inside the building failed and the water needs stopping.
Storm water, flooding or a soaked building
Water came in from outside, or the structure is wet and needs drying.
Not sure which you have? Answer a few questions and we will tell you. These are referral lines: they connect you to a company in the network, not to one this site operates or has inspected.
We are a free matching service, not a restoration contractor. Calls and requests are connected to independent providers.