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 4.0For strong wind, Spring Lake Heights’s building-damage rate is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Spring Lake Heights gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #259 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (49%), then strong wind (38%). Flood insurance has paid 33 claims here since 1992.
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 Spring Lake Heights 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
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 Spring Lake Heights’ grade
River and rain flooding is 49% of the building damage FEMA expects in Spring Lake Heights, and Spring Lake Heights’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Strong wind adds 38%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #259 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Spring Lake Heights’ 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, Spring Lake Heights has more expected damage per building than 55% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Spring Lake Heights: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Spring Lake Heights flood? Sometimes: 33 flood claims since 1992
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Spring Lake Heights, from FEMA’s records: 11.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy10 claims · $571K
- Hurricane Irene9 claims · $156K
- The December Storm - nor’easter6 claims · $32K
Spring Lake Heights 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.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Spring Lake Heights
Disasters that paid out in Spring Lake Heights itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Spring Lake Heights), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$38K to the Borough of Spring Lake Heights for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy14 households applied for aid$8K aid approved$281K to the Borough of Spring Lake Heights for repairs10 flood claims paid for it, $571K
- 2011Hurricane Irene6 households applied for aid$4K aid approved$29K to the Borough of Spring Lake Heights for repairs9 flood claims paid for it, $156K
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$35K to the Borough of Spring Lake Heights 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 Spring Lake Heights after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Spring Lake Heights archive →Spring Lake Heights and its neighbors
Spring Lake Heights is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Lake | Bless damage than 58% | strong wind | 431 |
| Wall Township | B−less damage than 52% | strong wind | 54 |
| Sea Girt | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 79 |
| Spring Lake Heights | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| West Belmar | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Spring Lake Heights 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.
- 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 Spring Lake Heights
Is Spring Lake Heights at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Spring Lake Heights has higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #259 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (49%) and strong wind (38%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Spring Lake Heights flood?
Flood insurance has paid 33 claims in Spring Lake Heights since 1992, $927K in all, or 11.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (10).
Is Spring Lake Heights 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 Spring Lake Heights?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Spring Lake Heights’ 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 Spring Lake Heights?
By FEMA money that reached Spring Lake Heights, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 14 households applied for aid, $8K approved, and $281K to the Borough of Spring Lake Heights for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 10 paid, $571K.
Is Spring Lake Heights at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (49%), and Spring Lake Heights’ rate for it is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Spring Lake Heights.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Spring Lake Heights’ 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.