Photo: Dual Freq · CC BY 2.5FEMA puts Maurice River Township’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 70% of U.S. towns, led by coastal flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Maurice River Township gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #316 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is coastal flooding (46%), then river and rain flooding (25%). Flood insurance has paid 124 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 Maurice River Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Maurice River Township faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Coastal flooding
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
Wildfire
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 Maurice River Township’s grade
Coastal flooding is 46% of the building damage FEMA expects in Maurice River Township, and Maurice River Township’s rate of coastal flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 6%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C #316 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Maurice River Township’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, Maurice River Township has more expected damage per building than 67% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.7M a year in losses across Maurice River Township: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Maurice River Township flood? Yes: 124 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Maurice River Township, from FEMA’s records: 109.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy27 claims · $895K
- The December Storm - nor’easter13 claims · $138K
- Hurricane Gloria8 claims · $24K
Maurice River Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cumberland County.The storms Maurice River Township remembers
None of the 23 disasters declared for Cumberland County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Maurice River Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 198040 flood claims paidThe year of Water Shortage, declared for Cumberland County
- 201228 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Sandy, declared for Cumberland County
- 199213 flood claims paidThe year of Coastal Storm, High Tides, Heavy Rain, and Flooding, declared for Cumberland County
Cumberland County has had 23 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter 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 Maurice River Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Maurice River Township archive →Maurice River Township and its neighbors
Maurice River Township is 7th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vineland | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Millville | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Buena Vista Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Dennis Township | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Estell Manor | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Weymouth Township | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Maurice River Township | Cmore damage than 70% | coastal flooding | 124 |
| Commercial Township | Dmore damage than 87% | coastal flooding | 24 |
| Dorothy | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Port Norris | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Leesburg | — | 431 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Maurice River Township faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- 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 Maurice River Township
Is Maurice River Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Maurice River Township has higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #316 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is coastal flooding (46%) and river and rain flooding (25%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Maurice River Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 124 claims in Maurice River Township since 1979, $1.9M in all, or 109.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 15 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (27).
Is Maurice River Township 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 Cumberland County, 27% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Maurice River Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Maurice River Township’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 Maurice River Township?
By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 27 paid, $895K.
Is Maurice River Township at risk from coastal flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (46%), and Maurice River Township’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Maurice River Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Maurice River Township’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.