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Natural hazard risk in Monmouth County, New Jersey

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on FEMA, NOAA and OpenFEMA data. Published by Humblebee.

FEMA overall Risk Index rating: Relatively High (score 96.3 of 100)[5]

Expected annual loss (FEMA)
$281.6 million[1]
Federal disaster declarations since 1965
25[2]
NFIP flood claims paid, 1978 to 2026
$937.5 million[3]
Tornadoes recorded, 1950 to 2024
15[4]

FEMA rates the overall natural hazard risk for Monmouth County Relatively High compared with other US counties, with a Risk Index score of 96.3 out of 100[5]. FEMA's National Risk Index gives the highest hazard scores in this county to strong wind, heat wave and lightning[6].

FEMA risk ratings for each hazard

Ratings and expected losses from the FEMA National Risk Index. Each rating compares this county with all US counties for that hazard, from Very Low to Very High. They are planning estimates, not predictions, and they do not describe any single property.

FEMA's National Risk Index estimates Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards at $281.6 million a year for Monmouth County[1]. This is a FEMA estimate of average yearly loss, not money anyone paid[7]. For the largest shares of that loss, FEMA's figures list inland flooding at $109.6 million a year, strong wind at $90.7 million a year and heat wave at $24.4 million a year[8]. FEMA rates social vulnerability Very Low, with a score of 15.8[9]. FEMA rates community resilience Very High, with a score of 91.0[10]. These ratings compare the county with all other US counties and do not predict next year's losses[7].

Hazards sorted by FEMA hazard-type Risk Index score, highest first
HazardFEMA risk ratingExpected annual loss
Strong WindVery High$90.7 million[11]
Heat WaveRelatively High$24.4 million[12]
LightningVery High$4.2 million[13]
Winter WeatherVery High$1.4 million[14]
Inland FloodingRelatively High$109.6 million[15]
Ice StormRelatively High$1.8 million[16]
EarthquakeRelatively Moderate$13.8 million[17]
HurricaneRelatively Moderate$16.9 million[18]
Coastal FloodingRelatively High$7.6 million[19]
WildfireRelatively Low$1.4 million[20]
Cold WaveRelatively Moderate$7.0 million[21]
DroughtRelatively Moderate$725,000[22]
TornadoRelatively Low$1.8 million[23]
LandslideVery Low$535[24]
HailVery Low$148,000[25]

Rated Not Applicable by FEMA for this county: avalanche, volcanic activity[26].

Social vulnerability and community resilience

FEMA uses these two ratings to scale expected losses into the Risk Index.

FEMA measureRatingScore
Social vulnerabilityVery Low15.8[9]
Community resilienceVery High91.0[10]

Flooding and flood insurance

FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively High in Monmouth County, with a score of 95.8 out of 100[15]. FEMA rates coastal flooding risk Relatively High as well, with a score of 90.2[19]. OpenFEMA data as of 2026-08-03 show 14,605 residential structures inside the mapped Special Flood Hazard Area and 10,288 contracts there, so 70.4% of homes inside the SFHA are insured[27]. The HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP claims for 1978 to 2026 counts 20,039 claims, and NFIP paid $937.5 million in total[3]. For the flood zone of a specific address, use FEMA's Flood Map Service Center[28].

Measure Value
Inland Flooding, FEMA risk rating[15] Relatively High, $109.6 million expected loss a year
Coastal Flooding, FEMA risk rating[19] Relatively High, $7.6 million expected loss a year
NFIP residential flood policies in force (2026)[27] 14,530 of 196,460 homes
Homes in FEMA's mapped high-risk flood area (SFHA)[27] 14,605, of which 10,288 insured
NFIP flood claims, 1978 to 2026[3] 20,039 filed, $937.5 million paid

Is a specific address in a flood zone? Only FEMA's flood maps answer that, property by property[28]. This page describes the whole county.

Search an address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Disaster declarations and tornado records

OpenFEMA lists 25 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Monmouth County since 1965[2]. Hurricanes account for 10 of them[2]. The most recent are DR-4614-NJ and EM-3573-NJ for the remnants of Hurricane Ida, declared in September 2021[29]. NOAA's tornado database records 15 tornadoes that touched the county from 1950 to 2024[4]. The strongest were rated EF2[4].

Federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Monmouth County, since 1965
Incident type Declarations
Hurricane[2] 10
Snowstorm[2] 4
Flood[2] 4
Severe Storm[2] 3
Drought[2] 2
Severe Ice Storm[2] 1
Fire[2] 1
Most recent declarations
Declaration Incident Declared
DR-4614-NJ[29] Remnants Of Hurricane Ida 2021-09-05
EM-3573-NJ[29] Remnants Of Hurricane Ida 2021-09-02
DR-4574-NJ[29] Tropical Storm Isaias 2020-12-11
DR-4264-NJ[29] Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm 2016-03-14
DR-4086-NJ[29] Hurricane Sandy 2012-10-30

How to prepare

Steps from Ready.gov, FEMA's preparedness site, for the hazards with the highest FEMA ratings here. Follow instructions from local officials and the National Weather Service when a warning is issued.

Extreme heat

Before

  • Learn the signs of heat illness and how to respond.
  • Do not rely on a fan as your main way to stay cool. Fans do not lower body temperature.
  • Find cool public places, such as libraries or malls, or ask your local health department.
  • Keep heat out with window shades, weather stripping and insulation.
  • If you cannot afford cooling costs, contact LIHEAP for help.

During

  • Never leave a person or an animal in a parked car in warm weather.
  • If your home has no air conditioning, go to a cooling center.
  • Wear light, loose clothing, drink plenty of fluids and avoid hard outdoor work in the middle of the day.

Source: Ready.gov, extreme heat

Winter storms and cold

Before

  • Insulate your home and learn how to keep pipes from freezing.
  • Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup.
  • Keep several days of supplies in case the power goes out, including medication and pet needs.
  • Put an emergency kit in your car with jumper cables, sand, blankets, water and snacks, and keep the tank full.

During

  • Under a winter storm warning, find shelter right away.
  • Stay off the roads if you can. If you are stuck in your car, stay inside it.
  • Run generators and grills only outdoors, away from windows, and never heat your home with an oven or stove.

Source: Ready.gov, winter storms and cold

Floods

Before

  • Check your flood risk with FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, and remember that floods do not follow map lines.
  • Sign up for your community's warning system. NOAA Weather Radio also broadcasts alerts.
  • Buy flood insurance through the NFIP well before a disaster. Homeowners policies do not cover flooding, and a new policy typically takes up to 30 days to go into effect.
  • Make a household plan with evacuation routes, shelter locations and what to do in a flash flood.
  • Keep important documents in a waterproof container and make password-protected digital copies.

During

  • If you are told to evacuate, leave right away and never drive around barricades.
  • Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwater. Six inches of moving water can knock you down.
  • If you are trapped in a building, go to the highest level, but do not climb into a closed attic.

Source: Ready.gov, floods

Questions people ask

Is Monmouth County at risk of flooding?
FEMA rates inland flooding risk Relatively High in Monmouth County, with a score of 95.8 out of 100[15]. FEMA rates coastal flooding Relatively High, with a score of 90.2[19].
Does Monmouth County get tornadoes?
NOAA's tornado database records 15 tornadoes touching Monmouth County from 1950 to 2024, and the strongest were rated EF2[4]. FEMA rates tornado risk Relatively Low compared with other US counties[23].
How many federal disasters have been declared in Monmouth County?
OpenFEMA lists 25 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Monmouth County since 1965[2].
Is Monmouth County at risk of hurricanes?
FEMA rates hurricane risk Relatively Moderate in Monmouth County compared with other US counties[18]. OpenFEMA lists 10 hurricane declarations that include the county[2].
How do I check the flood zone of an address in Monmouth County?
Look up the address in FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or ask the local floodplain manager[28]. County ratings do not give the flood zone of one address[28].

Facts and sources

  1. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Expected Annual Loss from all 18 natural hazards in Monmouth County is $281.6 million a year (Expected Annual Loss rating Relatively High, score 97.2). Of this, buildings account for $233.0 million, injuries and deaths (converted to dollars by FEMA) for $47.0... FEMA National Risk Index
  2. OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries list 25 federal disaster declarations for natural hazards that include Monmouth County since 1965 (16 major disaster, 9 emergency or fire management). By incident type: hurricane 10, snowstorm 4, flood 4, severe storm 3, drought 2, severe ice storm 1, fire 1. Biological... OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations
  3. HazardFacts tally of OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (losses from 1978 to 2026): 20,039 National Flood Insurance Program claims were filed for losses in Monmouth County, 16,939 of them with a payment, and NFIP paid $937.5 million in total (building, contents and increased cost of compliance, in dollars of the year... OpenFEMA NFIP claims
  4. NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950 to 2024): 15 recorded tornadoes touched Monmouth County. The strongest were rated EF2 (most recent of them on 2023-04-01). 0 were rated F3/EF3 or stronger. The most recent recorded tornado was on 2023-04-01. Ratings used the Fujita scale until early 2007 and the... NOAA Storm Prediction Center
  5. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): the overall natural hazard Risk Index rating for Monmouth County is Relatively High, with a Risk Index score of 96.3 out of 100. The score is the county's percentile rank among all US counties. FEMA National Risk Index
  6. Among the 18 hazards in the FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), the hazards with the highest hazard-type Risk Index scores for Monmouth County are strong wind (100.0, Very High), heat wave (98.6, Relatively High), lightning (98.4, Very High). HazardFacts sorted FEMA's published scores; FEMA's... FEMA National Risk Index
  7. FEMA's National Risk Index FAQ (December 2025): Expected Annual Loss is FEMA's estimate of the average economic loss in dollars from natural hazards each year. The index is not meant to predict how much damage a community will have in the next year, and a hazard can still cause damage where a rating is low. Scores... FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  8. HazardFacts sorted FEMA's hazard-type Expected Annual Loss values for Monmouth County (National Risk Index v1.20): the largest are inland flooding ($109.6 million a year), strong wind ($90.7 million a year), heat wave ($24.4 million a year), out of $281.6 million a year from all 18 hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  9. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Social Vulnerability rating for Monmouth County is Very Low (score 15.8). FEMA describes social vulnerability as how susceptible social groups are to the harm natural hazards cause. FEMA National Risk Index
  10. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025): Community Resilience rating for Monmouth County is Very High (score 91.0). FEMA describes community resilience as a community's ability to prepare for, withstand and recover from hazards. FEMA National Risk Index
  11. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), strong wind in Monmouth County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 100.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $90.7 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 5.81 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  12. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), heat wave in Monmouth County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 98.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $24.4 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 6.66 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  13. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), lightning in Monmouth County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 98.4 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $4.2 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 31.54 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 24 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  14. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), winter weather in Monmouth County: Risk Index rating Very High (score 97.5 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.4 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 9.2 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  15. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), inland flooding in Monmouth County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 95.8 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $109.6 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 3.54 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of... FEMA National Risk Index
  16. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), ice storm in Monmouth County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 94.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.8 million a year (rating Very High). Annualized frequency 0.7 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 68 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  17. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), earthquake in Monmouth County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 93.9 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $13.8 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0019 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  18. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hurricane in Monmouth County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 93.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $16.9 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 0.18 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 172... FEMA National Risk Index
  19. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), coastal flooding in Monmouth County: Risk Index rating Relatively High (score 90.2 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $7.6 million a year (rating Relatively High). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 3.7372 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  20. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), wildfire in Monmouth County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 88.7 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.4 million a year (rating Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled annual frequency is 0.0012 events per year. FEMA National Risk Index
  21. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), cold wave in Monmouth County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 87.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $7.0 million a year (rating Relatively High). Annualized frequency 0.84 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 18... FEMA National Risk Index
  22. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), drought in Monmouth County: Risk Index rating Relatively Moderate (score 71.6 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $725,000 a year (rating Relatively Moderate). Annualized frequency 3.98 event-days per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 22 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  23. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), tornado in Monmouth County: Risk Index rating Relatively Low (score 55.0 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $1.8 million a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 0.21 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 38 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  24. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), landslide in Monmouth County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 34.3 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $535 a year (rating Very Low). FEMA National Risk Index
  25. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025), hail in Monmouth County: Risk Index rating Very Low (score 30.1 of 100). Expected Annual Loss $148,000 a year (rating Relatively Low). Annualized frequency 1.93 events per year, from recorded occurrences over a period of record of 37 years. FEMA National Risk Index
  26. FEMA National Risk Index (version 1.20, December 2025) rates these hazards Not Applicable for Monmouth County: avalanche, volcanic activity. FEMA uses Not Applicable when its source data has no historical record of the hazard in the community and the hazard is not considered geographically possible there. FEMA National Risk Index documentation
  27. NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (OpenFEMA, as of 2026-08-03): 14,530 residential flood insurance contracts were in force in Monmouth County, out of 196,460 residential structures, a penetration rate of 7.4%. Inside FEMA's mapped Special Flood Hazard Area there were 14,605 residential structures and 10,288... OpenFEMA NFIP penetration rates
  28. FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official public source for flood maps (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) produced under the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood zones apply to specific properties: look up an address there or ask the local floodplain manager. County-level ratings do not tell you the flood zone of... FEMA Flood Map Service Center
  29. Most recent federal disaster declarations for natural hazards (table on this page). OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations

FEMA's National Risk Index compares each county with all other US counties. Ratings are relative (Very Low to Very High), not a measure of safety. Never call a place safe, unsafe, good or bad to live in. Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss values are FEMA estimates for planning. They do not predict next year's losses and do not apply to a single property. Flood zones are set by FEMA flood maps for specific properties. County ratings and flood insurance counts do not tell anyone whether an address is in a flood zone. Disaster declaration, NFIP and tornado counts are records of the past for this county only. Do not compare with other counties unless a fact does.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Risk Index Dataset: National Risk Index Counties, v1.20 (December 2025). Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com on October 30, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s). This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.