Environmental risks are a part of both the natural and built systems where we live work and play, but our policy and design responses to these risks can minimize harm to humans and ecosystems. Though experiences of environmental risks in Madison, New Jersey are low, this section explores different sources of potential hazards. Natural sources of risk that are complicated by built infrastructure include flooding, hurricanes, earthquakes, landslides, and wildfires. Human causes of environmental risk include industrial accidents, on-site or by train or roadways, gas leaks or explosions from built infrastructure, or other forms of commercial, industrial or otherwise human introduced hazards.

The digital Environmental Resource Inventory currently explores flooding and earthquakes. Additional information on various hazards can be found in the technical ERI report.