Natural Disaster Risk in Palmyra

Natural Hazard Profile: Palmyra, New Jersey

Palmyra is a town of roughly 7,485 residents in Burlington County, along the northeastern Atlantic Seaboard. The area experiences warm summers, cold winters, and significant coastal storm exposure, with nor'easters, coastal flooding, and tropical storm threats shaping the pattern of natural hazards that residents encounter. Understanding the local risk profile is essential for anyone living in, moving to, or owning property in Palmyra.

FEMA rates Palmyra's composite natural disaster risk at 8.0 out of 10 — very high risk. Strong wind is the primary natural hazard, with the area exposed to downburst winds from convective storms that can exceed 80 mph and cause hurricane-level localized damage. Residents should also account for winter and coastal flood risk in their preparedness planning.

Palmyra's risk score, slightly above the 7.4/10 state average and well above the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. Of the 18 hazard categories tracked by FEMA for Burlington County, the highest-scoring are wind, winter, and coastal flood. These scores reflect county-level data and represent the baseline risk that all communities in the county share.

Given Palmyra's very high risk classification, residents should treat disaster preparedness as a year-round priority. This means maintaining updated homeowners and flood insurance, building a 72-hour emergency kit, knowing the evacuation routes for the primary hazards, and signing up for local emergency alert systems.