Storms, floods and disasters in Belford
Belford isn’t graded for hazard risk: Belford is a Census area inside a town, graded with the town. Flood insurance has paid 756 claims here since 1978.
What Belford faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Strong wind
Coastal flooding
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
Does Belford flood? Yes: 756 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Belford, from FEMA’s records.
- Hurricane Sandy502 claims · $28.6M
- Hurricane Irene98 claims · $976K
- The December Storm - nor’easter84 claims · $871K
Belford isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Monmouth County.The storms Belford remembers
None of the 20 disasters declared for Monmouth County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Belford itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 2012503 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Sandy, declared for Monmouth County
- 201199 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Irene, declared for Monmouth County
- 199285 flood claims paidThe year of Coastal Storm, High Tides, Heavy Rain, and Flooding, declared for Monmouth County
Monmouth County has had 20 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Belford after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Belford archive →Belford and its neighbors
How expected damage per building compares across the town line. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Monmouth | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Leonardo | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Belford faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Belford
Does Belford flood?
Flood insurance has paid 756 claims in Belford since 1978, $30.8M in all. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (502).
Is Belford in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Monmouth County, 70% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 7.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Belford?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Belford’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Belford?
By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 502 paid, $28.6M.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Belford.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Belford’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.