A new analysis released by Rebuild by Design examined flood exposure across public infrastructure in Jersey City and surrounding areas. The study identified 281 public assets out of 686 in Jersey City located within current flood zones.
The inventory includes a range of public facilities such as schools, fire stations, police stations, libraries, power plants, wastewater treatment plants, hospitals and healthcare facilities, contaminated sites, solid and hazardous waste sites, and solid waste landfills.
Rebuild by Design Director Amy Chester said New Jersey is confronting the reality that weather events such as flooding, fires, and heatwaves are becoming more common as living costs rise across the state. Chester said the state has an opportunity to address the challenge by investing in infrastructure that can create jobs and lower costs for families.
- A Rebuild by Design analysis shows 281 of 686 public assets in Jersey City, or roughly 41 percent, sit in current flood zones. Projections place 398 assets, or 58 percent, in floodplains by 2050.
- In Hudson County, 663 pieces of public infrastructure, or 44.1 percent, face flood exposure today, rising to 848 assets, or 56.4 percent, by 2050.
- Across New Jersey, nearly 1 in 4 public assets already sit in flood zones. National Flood Insurance Program claims reached $6.5 billion across more than 230,000 claims between 2019 and 2025.
Interactive Map Tracks Infrastructure Exposure Across The State
Rebuild by Design launched a new online resource titled “NJ Underwater: Public Infrastructure at Risk.”
The webpage includes two interactive mapping tools that analyze nearly 19,000 public infrastructure assets statewide. Residents can enter a home or business address to determine whether the infrastructure they rely on faces flood exposure.
One tool focuses on cities and reviews Jersey City, Newark, Elizabeth, Paterson, Asbury Park, Atlantic City, and Camden. The analysis estimates that about half of public infrastructure across these cities will sit in flood zones within 24 years.
Within that group, Jersey City has the largest number of public assets currently in flood zones, including 197 contaminated sites.
Flood Zones Include Parks, Schools And Emergency Facilities
The Rebuild by Design data lists 45 parks in flood zones, including Liberty State Park and Lincoln Park.
The study also identifies 25 schools located in flood zones. The list includes McNair Academic High School, St. Peter’s Prep High School, County Prep High School, and Ferris High School.
Three healthcare facilities fall inside flood zones, including Jersey City Medical Center, which serves as the city’s only hospital.
Additional sites identified in the flood zone tally include three libraries, three solid waste landfills, two fire stations, and one police station. The fire stations listed are Engine 2 on Grand Street and Engine 5, Ladder 6 on Newark Avenue, while the police facility listed is the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Headquarters. The data also includes one power plant and one solid or hazardous waste site.
Hudson County Data Shows Widespread Infrastructure Exposure
Hudson County appears among the counties with the highest projected flood exposure in New Jersey, along with Cape May County.
The county contains 1,503 public assets, according to the analysis. Of those assets, 44.1 percent are located inside current flood zones.
The 2025 data identifies multiple types of facilities exposed to flooding, including 437 contaminated sites, 110 parks, 46 schools, seven healthcare facilities, seven libraries, eight landfills, 13 fire stations, three police stations, 16 power plants, nine solid and hazardous waste sites, four wastewater treatment facilities, and three Superfund sites.
By 2050, projections place 572 of 902 contaminated sites inside flood zones.
Flood Exposure Affects Parcels And Residents Across Hudson County
Flood exposure also affects residential areas across Hudson County.
The county contains 140,300 parcels, with 22.8 percent located in flood-risk areas in 2025. Projections place 31.7 percent of parcels inside flood-risk zones by 2050.
Approximately 163,767 residents currently live in flood-risk areas within the county. Projections place that number at 227,849 residents, or about 32 percent of the population, by 2050, an increase of 64,082 people.
Hudson County has experienced five federal disaster declarations since 2011, resulting in $121.6 million in obligations to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Flood Risk Creates Displacement Concerns For Residents
Rebuild by Design estimates 184,155 people face displacement risk from flooding today.
Among that group, 35,675 residents, equal to 19 percent, fall into lower-income households and may lack the resources needed to relocate.
The report states displacement tied to flooding is already occurring in several counties across New Jersey.
Blue Acres Program Acquired Flood-Prone Properties Elsewhere In The State
New Jersey operates the Blue Acres program, a voluntary buyout initiative that purchases flood-prone properties and converts them into open space.
The program has acquired 1,677 flood-damaged properties across 13 counties and 47 cities.
Despite those purchases, the program currently has no Blue Acres parcels located in Jersey City or Hudson County.
Property Value And Tax Revenue Exposure Continues To Increase
The analysis calculates the economic risk tied to flooding across Hudson County.
The market value of property at risk totals $62.6 billion today. Projections place that exposure at $82.4 billion by 2050.
Flood exposure also affects government revenue. The report estimates $684.8 million in annual tax revenue currently at risk, increasing to $914 million by 2050.
Across New Jersey, flood exposure places $435.9 billion in property value and $5.9 billion in annual tax revenue at risk.
Environmental Commission Points To Building Code Changes
Jennifer Coffey, executive director of the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions, said families, businesses, schools, and public safety facilities across New Jersey face flood exposure.
Coffey said the state has an opportunity to protect lives, homes, and businesses through improved building codes that require planning for flooding under the New Jersey Protecting Against Climate Threats Resilient Environments and Landscapes, known as NJPACT REAL, scheduled for implementation in July.
Insurance Claims And Household Costs Continue To Increase
Rebuild by Design analyzed National Flood Insurance Program claims data and found $6.5 billion paid across more than 230,000 claims in all 21 New Jersey counties between 2019 and 2025.
Three counties, including Hudson County, rank among the top 100 counties nationally for insurance non-renewals.
Insurance premiums in Hudson County increased $1,249, or 128 percent, between 2018 and 2023.
Other household costs have also increased. Electricity prices in New Jersey rose more than one-third between June 2023 and June 2025, and some families experienced 20 percent increases in a single year.
Homeowners insurance costs increased 26 percent since 2021, while nearly half of the state’s 127 insurance companies filed for rate increases in 2025.
New Jersey received $7.9 billion in federal disaster assistance between 2011 and 2024, though the state does not currently have a dedicated funding source for climate-ready infrastructure.
Survey data cited in the report shows 93 percent of New Jersey voters support investment in projects that reduce weather damage, including 97 percent of Democrats and 89 percent of Republicans.
Climate Risk Data Lists Precipitation, Heat And Drought As Primary Threats
Climate risk data for Jersey City identifies precipitation, heat, and drought as the top climate hazards affecting the city.
Risk ratings compare hazards relative to North America, where 100 represents the highest risk level and 1 the lowest.
The data shows precipitation and heat risk classified as very high, while drought risk is classified as significant. About 32 percent of buildings in Jersey City face flood exposure, while 3 percent of buildings face wildfire risk, which is classified as relatively low.
Climate Projections Show Rising Rainfall And Heat Levels
Climate projections show changes in precipitation patterns.
A downpour in Jersey City is defined as two days of rainfall exceeding 1.2 inches. Around 1990, about 41 percent of precipitation fell during such downpours. By 2050, projections place that share at about 45 percent.
Total annual precipitation in the city is projected to increase from about 45.8 inches to about 49.3 inches.
Temperature projections show a rise in extreme heat days. Around 1990, Jersey City averaged about seven days each year above 92.4°F. By 2050, projections estimate about 30 days annually above that temperature.
The Lower Hudson watershed, which includes Jersey City, experienced 383 weeks with drought conditions since 2000, equal to 32 percent of weeks. The watershed also experienced 23 weeks of Extreme or Exceptional drought during that period, according to the National Drought Monitor.
Flood Modeling Shows Thousands Of Properties At Risk
Flood probability modeling estimates that buildings in Jersey City face about a 50 percent chance of experiencing flooding about 1.2 feet deep within a 30-year period.
Among 139 census tracts in Jersey City, 43 tracts have more than half of their buildings facing risk from storm surge, high tide flooding, pluvial flooding, and river flooding.
Property Risk Data Shows Thousands Of Structures Exposed
First Street flood modeling estimates 21,530 properties in Jersey City face flood exposure within the next 30 years, representing 39.8 percent of all properties in the city.
Community impact estimates classify flood exposure across several categories. Residential risk is listed as moderate, commercial risk as major, infrastructure risk as severe, social risk as moderate, and road risk as major.
Historical flooding in Jersey City includes Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, affecting 3,836 properties, Hurricane Irene in August 2011, affecting 538 properties, and a Nor’easter in November 2009, affecting 37 properties.
A 1-in-100 year flood event occurring today could affect 8,169 properties, while the same event 30 years from now could affect 12,110 properties. The probability of that event occurring during a 30-year mortgage is estimated at 26 percent.
Current estimates place 30.6 percent of Jersey City properties at flood risk today, increasing to 39.7 percent within 30 years.
FEMA And First Street Data Show Different Property Counts
First Street identifies 13,543 properties with Major or Higher flood risk out of 54,163 total properties in Jersey City.
Federal Emergency Management Agency flood maps identify 8,505 properties located in Special Flood Hazard Areas, classified as Zone A or Zone V, out of the same total number of properties.
Federal maps do not currently include two-thirds of rivers in the United States, and they do not account for heavy rainfall or new development away from rivers or in urban areas due to the cost and labor required for mapping.
Homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover flood damage. Properties classified with Major or Higher flood factor are recommended to obtain flood insurance. Properties located in certain FEMA flood zones may require flood insurance to secure a mortgage.
Flood Sources And Protection Measures Identified In Risk Data
Flood sources affecting Jersey City include coastal flooding caused by storm surge, high tides, and sea-level rise, precipitation flooding caused by heavy rainfall, and river flooding caused by overflowing rivers or streams.
Protection measures associated with these hazards include seawalls and living breakwaters for coastal flooding, floodwalls and levees for precipitation flooding, and floodwalls, levees, dikes, and dams for river flooding.
First Street reports no recorded flood risk reduction projects currently located near Jersey City.
