Photo: Mr. Matté (if there is an issue with this image, contact me using this image's Commons talk page, my Commons user talk page, or my English Wikipedia user talk page; I'll know about it a lot faster) · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Monmouth Beach faces more hazard damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Monmouth Beach gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #391 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (36%), then coastal flooding (30%). Flood insurance has paid 1,496 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 Monmouth Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Monmouth Beach 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
Coastal flooding
Strong wind
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 Monmouth Beach’s grade
River and rain flooding is 36% of the building damage FEMA expects in Monmouth Beach, and Monmouth Beach’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 30%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #391 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Monmouth Beach’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, Monmouth Beach has more expected damage per building than 84% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.1M a year in losses across Monmouth Beach: $1.9M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Monmouth Beach flood? Yes: 1,496 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Monmouth Beach, from FEMA’s records: 806.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 100% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy724 claims · $96.1M
- The December Storm - nor’easter360 claims · $8.6M
- Hurricane Irene52 claims · $1.8M
Monmouth Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Monmouth County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Monmouth Beach
Disasters that paid out in Monmouth Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Monmouth Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$13K to the Borough of Monmouth Beach for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy1,026 households applied for aid$4.0M aid approved$3.1M to the Borough of Monmouth Beach for repairs724 flood claims paid for it, $96.1M
- 2011Hurricane Irene32 households applied for aid$24K aid approved$84K to the Borough of Monmouth Beach for repairs52 flood claims paid for it, $1.8M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$13K to the Borough of Monmouth Beach for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding9 households applied for aid$17K aid approved$20K to the Borough of Monmouth Beach 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 Monmouth Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Monmouth Beach archive →Monmouth Beach and its neighbors
Monmouth Beach is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Branch | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 1,107 |
| 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 |
| Sea Bright | Dmore damage than 92% | coastal flooding | 1,584 |
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 Monmouth Beach 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Monmouth Beach residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Monmouth Beach
Is Monmouth Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Monmouth Beach has higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #391 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (36%) and coastal flooding (30%). 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 Monmouth Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,496 claims in Monmouth Beach since 1978, $109M in all, or 806.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 100% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 138 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (724).
Is Monmouth Beach 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 Monmouth Beach?
Monmouth Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% 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 Monmouth Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Monmouth Beach, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 1,026 households applied for aid, $4.0M approved, and $3.1M to the Borough of Monmouth Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 724 paid, $96.1M.
Is Monmouth Beach at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (36%), and Monmouth Beach’s rate for it is lower than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Monmouth Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Monmouth Beach’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.