Ocean County
New Jersey — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
HighComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 96th
Ocean County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 96.2, 96th national percentile), driven primarily by strong wind and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $204M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Strong Wind | Very High | 4.38 / yr | $39M |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 9.38 / yr | $2M |
| Coastal Flood | Very High | 3.65 / yr | $19M |
| Lightning | Very High | 30.14 / yr | $3M |
| Riverine Flood | High | 3.43 / yr | $100M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 6.77 / yr | $7M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $4M |
| Ice Storm | High | 0.40 / yr | $1M |
| Hurricane | High | 0.20 / yr | $13M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.00 / yr | $7M |
| Cold Wave | High | 0.78 / yr | $7M |
| Drought | Low | 7.09 / yr | $318K |
| Hail | Low | 1.44 / yr | $366K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.11 / yr | $2K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.24 / yr | $1M |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Ocean County?
Ocean County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 96.2 out of 100, placing it in the High category and the 96th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Ocean County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Strong Wind (Very High, $39M EAL), Winter Weather (Very High, $2M EAL), Coastal Flood (Very High, $19M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Ocean County compare to other New Jersey counties?
Ocean County ranks #6 of 21 New Jersey counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a high rating.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Ocean County's $204M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.