Flooding in River Edge, New Jersey: the flood zone, the record, and what to do
River Edge sits on a stretch of the Hackensack that can flood from either end. Heavy rain sends water down from the reservoirs above New Milford, and a strong surge can push the tide up from Newark Bay.
The Bergen County 2026 hazard mitigation plan puts 10.67 per cent of River Edge in the FEMA 1 per cent annual chance flood zone, and 13.46 per cent including the 0.2 per cent zone. FEMA counts 102 National Flood Insurance Program claims in the borough, led by Irene and the April 2007 nor'easter, and 16 repetitive-loss properties. The river along the borough's eastern side, and Coles Brook where it joins it, account for nearly all of the mapped risk.
The short version
- The Bergen County 2026 hazard plan maps 10.67 per cent of River Edge in the 1 per cent annual chance flood zone, 13.46 per cent including the 0.2 per cent zone.
- FEMA records 102 flood insurance claims in River Edge, led by Irene (21) and the April 2007 nor'easter (14).
- FEMA lists 16 repetitive-loss properties, 3 of them severe repetitive loss, and the county plan names River Edge among towns where they concentrate.
- FEMA's tidal analysis reaches River Edge: the 1 per cent stillwater level is 7.9 feet at the borough's downstream limit and at Coles Brook.
What the claim record shows
FEMA's OpenFEMA data list 102 National Flood Insurance Program claims for the Borough of River Edge. The heaviest years were 2011 with 24, 2007 with 19, 2021 with 12 and 2012 with 11. By named event, FEMA attributes 21 to Hurricane Irene, 14 to the April 2007 nor'easter, 11 to Hurricane Sandy and 9 to Hurricane Ida. FEMA's multiple-loss records, as of 2 August 2026, list 16 River Edge repetitive-loss properties, 3 of them severe repetitive loss, and the county hazard plan names River Edge, with Lodi, New Milford, Rochelle Park and South Hackensack, as a municipality where repetitive-loss properties are concentrated. With 4,590 housing units, as counted by the US Census Bureau, that is a small number of addresses flooding repeatedly rather than a borough-wide problem.
The flood zone and the band beyond it
Table 4.6-1 of the county hazard plan counts 128.52 of River Edge's 1,204.11 acres in the 1 per cent annual chance flood zone, which is 10.67 per cent. A further 2.78 per cent lies only in the 0.2 per cent annual chance zone, taking the total to 13.46 per cent. That outer band is wider than in Hackensack, Teaneck or Bogota, and it matters: those properties are outside the zone in which lenders normally require flood insurance, yet the maps show them flooding in a severe event. The zone follows the Hackensack on the borough's eastern side and the lower course of Coles Brook, which meets the river at the end of Main Street.
Rain from upstream
Upstream of River Edge, the Hackensack passes the Oradell Reservoir and the New Milford gauge. FEMA's Flood Insurance Study for Bergen County records that the lower Hackensack floods when Oradell Reservoir is at a high stage, and the flood of record at New Milford, 12.36 feet on 16 April 2007, came in the same storm that produced River Edge's second-worst claim year. The National Weather Service sets minor flooding at that gauge at 6 feet and major at 10, and it is the most useful forecast for River Edge during a long rain. The county plan also shows how much rain the borough can catch: during Tropical Storm Hanna in September 2008, rainfall across the region ranged up to 5.50 inches, and the highest total was recorded at River Edge.
The tide from downstream
FEMA's tidal analysis also reaches River Edge. The flood study gives a 1 per cent annual chance coastal stillwater elevation of 7.9 feet above the NAVD88 datum on the Hackensack at the downstream corporate limits of River Edge, and the same figure on Coles Brook at its confluence with the river. In plain terms, a once-a-century tide would raise the river and the mouth of the brook to that level here, regardless of rain. Sandy showed it. On the morning the storm arrived, 29 October 2012, local news reported that borough police closed Hackensack Avenue as river water reached its intersection with Main Street. The borough's own priority in the county mitigation strategy is keeping roadway routes open during extreme weather.
What this means if you own or rent here
Look up your address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and note whether it falls in the 0.2 per cent band. Near the river or Coles Brook, watch two forecasts: the New Milford gauge when heavy rain is forecast across the basin, and the coastal flood forecast when a strong onshore wind is expected. Away from the water, the likelier problem in houses with a 1954 median build year, per the US Census Bureau, is groundwater and drains: keep downspouts clear of the foundation, test the sump pump, and ask a licensed plumber about a backwater valve. About 23.8 per cent of households rent and need their own contents cover. Flood insurance is a separate policy, normally starting 30 days after purchase, and whether a loss is covered is decided by your insurer and your policy wording.
Common questions
Does River Edge, NJ flood?
Along the river, yes. FEMA counts 102 flood insurance claims in the borough and the county plan maps about a tenth of its land in the 1 per cent annual chance zone, along the Hackensack and Coles Brook. Most of River Edge is outside the zone.
Is the Hackensack tidal at River Edge?
Yes. The river is tidal below the Oradell Dam, and FEMA's flood study calculates coastal flood levels at the downstream boundary of River Edge and the mouth of Coles Brook. That is why Sandy, a surge storm, reached Hackensack Avenue at Main Street.
Which gauge should River Edge residents watch?
For rain floods, the National Weather Service gauge Hackensack River at New Milford, just upstream, where minor flooding begins at 6 feet. For surge, the coastal flood forecast and tide times matter more.
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