Photo: Luigi Novi · CC BY 4.0For strong wind, Brielle’s building-damage rate is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brielle gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns, #266 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (43%), then strong wind (38%). Flood insurance has paid 172 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 Brielle’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Brielle 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
Hurricanes
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.
What’s behind Brielle’s grade
River and rain flooding is 43% of the building damage FEMA expects in Brielle, and Brielle’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 38%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #266 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Brielle’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New Jersey town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, Brielle has more expected damage per building than 57% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.3M a year in losses across Brielle: $2.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Brielle flood? Yes: 172 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Brielle, from FEMA’s records: 80.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy116 claims · $10.6M
- The December Storm - nor’easter25 claims · $403K
- The “Halloween” storm5 claims · $16K
Brielle 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.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Brielle
Disasters that paid out in Brielle itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Brielle), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$29K to the Borough of Brielle for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy334 households applied for aid$1.2M aid approved$600K to the Borough of Brielle for repairs116 flood claims paid for it, $10.6M
- 2011Hurricane Irene31 households applied for aid$32K aid approved$54K to the Borough of Brielle for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $52K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$31K to the Borough of Brielle for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$948 aid approved$25K to the Borough of Brielle for repairs
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 Brielle after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Brielle archive →Brielle and its neighbors
Brielle is 2nd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wall Township | B−less damage than 52% | strong wind | 54 |
| Brielle | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 172 |
| Point Pleasant | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 1,125 |
| Point Pleasant Beach | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 1,707 |
| Manasquan | Dmore damage than 87% | coastal flooding | 2,019 |
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 Brielle 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.
- 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.
- 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 Brielle
Is Brielle at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brielle has higher expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #266 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (43%) and strong wind (38%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Brielle flood?
Flood insurance has paid 172 claims in Brielle since 1978, $11.2M in all, or 80.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 95% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 9 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (116).
Is Brielle 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 Brielle?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Brielle’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 Brielle?
By FEMA money that reached Brielle, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 334 households applied for aid, $1.2M approved, and $600K to the Borough of Brielle for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 116 paid, $10.6M.
Is Brielle at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (43%), and Brielle’s rate for it is lower than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Brielle.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Brielle’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.