Photo: Nick Harris · CC BY 2.5Spring Lake’s building-damage rate from strong wind is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Spring Lake gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #161 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is strong wind (47%), then river and rain flooding (38%). Flood insurance has paid 431 claims here since 1980.
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 Spring Lake’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Spring Lake faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Strong wind
River and rain flooding
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’s grade
Strong wind is 47% of the building damage FEMA expects in Spring Lake, and Spring Lake’s rate of strong wind damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 38% (lower than 89% of U.S. census tracts).
B #161 of 468 in New Jersey; lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Spring Lake’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, Spring Lake has less expected damage per building than 66% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Spring Lake: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Spring Lake flood? Yes: 431 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Spring Lake, from FEMA’s records: 214.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy171 claims · $9.2M
- The Torrential rain104 claims · $4.0M
- Hurricane Irene93 claims · $2.0M
Spring Lake is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Monmouth County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Spring Lake
Disasters that paid out in Spring Lake itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Borough of Spring Lake), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Hurricane Sandy390 households applied for aid$474K aid approved$4.3M to the Borough of Spring Lake for repairs171 flood claims paid for it, $9.2M
- 2011Hurricane Irene75 households applied for aid$113K aid approved$462K to the Borough of Spring Lake for repairs93 flood claims paid for it, $2.0M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$48K to the Borough of Spring Lake for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding5 households applied for aid$6K aid approved$94K to the Borough of Spring Lake 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 after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Spring Lake archive →Spring Lake and its neighbors
Spring Lake is 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Como | Bless damage than 60% | strong wind | 36 |
| Spring Lake | Bless damage than 58% | strong wind | 431 |
| Belmar | Bless damage than 55% | strong wind | 431 |
| 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 |
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 faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Trim dead limbs over the house and driveway.
- Tie down trash cans and outdoor furniture.
- Stay clear of downed lines and call the utility.
- 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.
- 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.
- Spring Lake residents get 15% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Spring Lake
Is Spring Lake at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Spring Lake has lower expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #161 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is strong wind (47%) and river and rain flooding (38%). 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 Spring Lake flood?
Flood insurance has paid 431 claims in Spring Lake since 1980, $15.9M in all, or 214.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 101 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (171).
Is Spring Lake 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?
Spring Lake is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 7), which takes 15% 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 Spring Lake?
By FEMA money that reached Spring Lake, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 390 households applied for aid, $474K approved, and $4.3M to the Borough of Spring Lake for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 171 paid, $9.2M.
Is Spring Lake at risk from strong wind?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (47%), and Spring Lake’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Spring Lake.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Spring Lake’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.