Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Sea Bright’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 92% of U.S. towns, led by coastal flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sea Bright gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is coastal flooding (47%), then river and rain flooding (27%). Flood insurance has paid 1,584 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 Sea Bright’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Sea Bright 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
Strong wind
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 Sea Bright’s grade
Coastal flooding is 47% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sea Bright, and Sea Bright’s rate of coastal flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 18%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Sea Bright’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Sea Bright: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Sea Bright flood? Yes: 1,584 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sea Bright, from FEMA’s records: 1,367.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 100% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy581 claims · $71.0M
- The December Storm - nor’easter420 claims · $8.5M
- The “Halloween” storm105 claims · $700K
Sea Bright is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Monmouth County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Sea Bright
Disasters that paid out in Sea Bright itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Sea Bright), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$16K to the Borough of Sea Bright for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Sandy1,216 households applied for aid$5.1M aid approved$11.2M to the Borough of Sea Bright for repairs581 flood claims paid for it, $71.0M
- 2011Hurricane Irene68 households applied for aid$92K aid approved$50K to the Borough of Sea Bright for repairs104 flood claims paid for it, $3.0M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$18K to the Borough of Sea Bright for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding11 households applied for aid$16K aid approved$30K to the Borough of Sea Bright 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 Sea Bright after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Sea Bright archive →Sea Bright and its neighbors
Sea Bright is 5th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middletown Township | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 1,461 |
| Rumson | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 805 |
| Monmouth Beach | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 1,496 |
| Highlands | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 1,527 |
| 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 Sea Bright 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.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- 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.
- Sea Bright residents get 20% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Sea Bright
Is Sea Bright at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sea Bright has higher expected damage per building than 92% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is coastal flooding (47%) and river and rain flooding (27%). 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 Sea Bright flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1,584 claims in Sea Bright since 1978, $86.7M in all, or 1,367.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 100% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 131 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (581).
Is Sea Bright 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 Sea Bright?
Sea Bright is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 6), which takes 20% 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 Sea Bright?
By FEMA money that reached Sea Bright, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 1,216 households applied for aid, $5.1M approved, and $11.2M to the Borough of Sea Bright for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 581 paid, $71.0M.
Is Sea Bright at risk from coastal flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (47%), and Sea Bright’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sea Bright.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sea Bright’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.