Photo: Dough4872 · CC BY-SA 4.0Belmar’s building-damage rate from strong wind is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Belmar gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #171 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is strong wind (46%), then river and rain flooding (36%). Flood insurance has paid 431 claims here since 1978.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Belmar’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Belmar faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Strong wind
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
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.
What’s behind Belmar’s grade
Strong wind is 46% of the building damage FEMA expects in Belmar, and Belmar’s rate of strong wind damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 3%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
B #171 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Belmar’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical New Jersey town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, Belmar has less expected damage per building than 64% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.0M a year in losses across Belmar: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Belmar flood? Yes: 431 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Belmar, from FEMA’s records: 110.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy278 claims · $18.0M
- The Torrential rain33 claims · $420K
- The December Storm - nor’easter32 claims · $390K
Belmar is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Monmouth County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Belmar
Disasters that paid out in Belmar itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Belmar), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Hurricane Sandy1,476 households applied for aid$5.4M aid approved278 flood claims paid for it, $18.0M
- 2011Hurricane Irene49 households applied for aid$50K aid approved29 flood claims paid for it, $326K
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 Belmar after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Belmar archive →Belmar and its neighbors
Belmar is 3rd of the 6 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Como | Bless damage than 60% | strong wind | 36 |
| Spring Lake | Bless damage than 58% | strong wind | 431 |
| Belmar | Bless damage than 55% | strong wind | 431 |
| Wall Township | B−less damage than 52% | strong wind | 54 |
| Neptune Township | B−more damage than 52% | strong wind | 364 |
| Avon-by-the-Sea | B−more damage than 52% | strong wind | 255 |
| Shark River Hills | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| West Belmar | — | 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 Belmar faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- 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.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- 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.
- Belmar residents get 25% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Belmar
Is Belmar at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Belmar has lower expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #171 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is strong wind (46%) and river and rain flooding (36%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Belmar flood?
Flood insurance has paid 431 claims in Belmar since 1978, $19.7M in all, or 110.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 35 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (278).
Is Belmar 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 Belmar?
Belmar is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 5), which takes 25% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Belmar?
By FEMA money that reached Belmar, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 1,476 households applied for aid, $5.4M approved. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 278 paid, $18.0M.
Is Belmar at risk from strong wind?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (46%), and Belmar’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Belmar.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Belmar’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.