Photo: Apc106 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Little Silver than in 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Little Silver gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #347 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (51%), then strong wind (32%). Flood insurance has paid 345 claims here since 1979.
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 Little Silver’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Little Silver 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 Little Silver’s grade
River and rain flooding is 51% of the building damage FEMA expects in Little Silver, and Little Silver’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 32%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C #347 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Little Silver’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, Little Silver has more expected damage per building than 74% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.7M a year in losses across Little Silver: $3.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Little Silver flood? Yes: 345 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Little Silver, from FEMA’s records: 151.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy198 claims · $29.8M
- The December Storm - nor’easter94 claims · $3.1M
- Hurricane Irene12 claims · $177K
Little Silver 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.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Little Silver
Disasters that paid out in Little Silver itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Little Silver), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$60K to the Borough of Little Silver for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$37K to the Borough of Little Silver for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy328 households applied for aid$1.6M aid approved$2.0M to the Borough of Little Silver for repairs198 flood claims paid for it, $29.8M
- 2011Hurricane Irene40 households applied for aid$49K aid approved$46K to the Borough of Little Silver for repairs12 flood claims paid for it, $177K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$47K to the Borough of Little Silver for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding13 households applied for aid$9K aid approved$33K to the Borough of Little Silver 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 Little Silver after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Little Silver archive →Little Silver and its neighbors
Little Silver is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Bank | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Shrewsbury | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Rumson | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 805 |
| Little Silver | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 345 |
| Oceanport | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 871 |
| Monmouth Beach | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 1,496 |
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 Little Silver 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 Little Silver
Is Little Silver at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Little Silver has higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #347 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (51%) and strong wind (32%). 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 Little Silver flood?
Flood insurance has paid 345 claims in Little Silver since 1979, $33.3M in all, or 151.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 25 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (198).
Is Little Silver 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 Little Silver?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Little Silver’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 Little Silver?
By FEMA money that reached Little Silver, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 328 households applied for aid, $1.6M approved, and $2.0M to the Borough of Little Silver for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 198 paid, $29.8M.
Is Little Silver at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (51%), and Little Silver’s rate for it is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Little Silver.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Little Silver’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.