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Risk: Relatively High

Ocean County, NJ Environment & Hazard Risk

Relatively High natural hazard risk, led by strong wind. 2,238 storm events since 1996.

Expected yearly loss
$204M
Relatively High nationally
Storm events since 1996
2,238
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
35,624
16.6% of homes
Hurricanes nearby
2
15 tropical storms or stronger since 1861

Natural hazard risk

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025

Overall risk

Relatively High

Score 96.2 of 100

Social vulnerability

Relatively Moderate

Score 48.6 of 100

Community resilience

Very High

Score 90.1 of 100

Community resilience runs the other way: a higher rating means a community can recover faster.

Building value exposed: $119B · Agriculture value exposed: $31.73M · Risk-adjusted yearly loss: $224M

Risk by hazard

  • Strong windVery High$38.59M/yr expected annual loss, about 4.4 events a year
  • Winter weatherVery High$2.15M/yr expected annual loss, about 9.4 events a year
  • Coastal floodingVery High$19.18M/yr expected annual loss, about 3.6 events a year
  • LightningVery High$2.81M/yr expected annual loss, about 30 events a year
  • Heat waveRelatively Moderate$6.59M/yr expected annual loss, about 6.8 events a year
  • WildfireRelatively Moderate$3.57M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 332 years
  • Ice stormRelatively High$1.43M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
  • HurricaneRelatively High$13.43M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 5 years
  • EarthquakeRelatively Moderate$7.24M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 569 years
  • Cold waveRelatively High$7.18M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
  • DroughtRelatively Low$318K/yr expected annual loss, about 7.1 events a year
  • HailRelatively Low$366K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.4 events a year
  • LandslideVery Low$2,016/yr expected annual loss, about once every 9 years
  • TornadoRelatively Low$1.06M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Flood risk and insurance

National Flood Insurance Program and FEMA flood maps

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance
35,624 of 214,768 (16.6%)
Homes in high-risk flood zones
47,067
Insured in high-risk zones
33,329 (71%)
Flood claims since 1978
52,884
Claims paid since 1978
$2.61B

Flood claims paid per year

Flood claims paid per year in Ocean County
  • Hurricane Sandy$2.49B · 37,459 claims
  • December Storm - Nor'easter$66.43M · 6,757 claims
  • Hurricane Irene$18.03M · 1,080 claims
  • Flooding$6.43M · 1,728 claims
  • The "Halloween" Storm$2.75M · 673 claims
  • March 2010 Nor'easter$1.72M · 251 claims

Storm history

Since 1996: 2,238 events, 44 deaths, $11.16B in damage

  • Thunderstorm Wind374 · 1 death
  • Strong Wind268
  • Winter Weather212 · 4 deaths
  • High Wind168 · 4 deaths
  • Coastal Flood140 · 2 deaths
  • Heat110 · 3 deaths
  • Heavy Rain91
  • Drought87
  • Flash Flood80
  • Lightning79 · 5 deaths

Events per year

Storm events per year in Ocean County

20 tornadoes on record (EF0 4, EF1 3, EF2 3, F0 3, F1 3, F2 2, F3 1).

Most damaging storms

Since 1996, ranked by deaths, injuries and damage

  • Coastal Flood10/29/2012

    Eastern Ocean

    $7.5B damage

    What happened

    Post Tropical Storm Sandy was the costliest natural disaster by far in the state of New Jersey. Record breaking high tides and wave action combined with sustained winds as high as 60 to 70 mph with wind gusts as high as around 90 mph to batter the state. Statewide, Sandy caused an estimated 29.4 billion dollars in damage, destroyed or significantly damaged 30,000 homes and businesses, affected 42,000 additional structures and was responsible directly or indirectly for 38 deaths. A new temporary inlet formed in Mantaloking (Ocean County) where some homes were swept away. About 2.4 million households in the state lost power. It would take two weeks for power to be fully restored to homes and businesses that were inhabitable. In the Mount Holly warning and forecast area of New Jersey, Sandy was responsible for 24 deaths, 8 that are considered directly caused by the system: two drownings, five people killed by fallen trees and one person was blown over by the wind. Hardest hit were the coastal areas of Ocean and Monmouth Counties. As of late December, complete access to the barrier islands of Ocean County was still prohibited. It was expected to take until 2013 before rebuilt gas...

  • Coastal Flood10/29/2012

    Western Ocean

    2 deaths, $2.5B damage

    What happened

    Post Tropical Storm Sandy was the costliest natural disaster by far in the state of New Jersey. Record breaking high tides and wave action combined with sustained winds as high as 60 to 70 mph with wind gusts as high as around 90 mph to batter the state. Statewide, Sandy caused an estimated 29.4 billion dollars in damage, destroyed or significantly damaged 30,000 homes and businesses, affected 42,000 additional structures and was responsible directly or indirectly for 38 deaths. A new temporary inlet formed in Mantaloking (Ocean County) where some homes were swept away. About 2.4 million households in the state lost power. It would take two weeks for power to be fully restored to homes and businesses that were inhabitable. In the Mount Holly warning and forecast area of New Jersey, Sandy was responsible for 24 deaths, 8 that are considered directly caused by the system: two drownings, five people killed by fallen trees and one person was blown over by the wind. Hardest hit were the coastal areas of Ocean and Monmouth Counties. As of late December, complete access to the barrier islands of Ocean County was still prohibited. It was expected to take until 2013 before rebuilt gas...

  • High Wind76 kt wind10/29/2012

    Western Ocean

    3 deaths, $500M damage

    What happened

    Post Tropical Storm Sandy was the costliest natural disaster by far in the state of New Jersey. Record breaking high tides and wave action combined with sustained winds as high as 60 to 70 mph with wind gusts as high as around 90 mph to batter the state. Statewide, Sandy caused an estimated 29.4 billion dollars in damage, destroyed or significantly damaged 30,000 homes and businesses, affected 42,000 additional structures and was responsible directly or indirectly for 38 deaths. A new temporary inlet formed in Mantaloking (Ocean County) where some homes were swept away. About 2.4 million households in the state lost power. It would take two weeks for power to be fully restored to homes and businesses that were inhabitable. In the Mount Holly warning and forecast area of New Jersey, Sandy was responsible for 24 deaths, 8 that are considered directly caused by the system: two drownings, five people killed by fallen trees and one person was blown over by the wind. Hardest hit were the coastal areas of Ocean and Monmouth Counties. As of late December, complete access to the barrier islands of Ocean County was still prohibited. It was expected to take until 2013 before rebuilt gas...

  • High Wind69 kt wind10/29/2012

    Eastern Ocean

    $500M damage

    What happened

    Post Tropical Storm Sandy was the costliest natural disaster by far in the state of New Jersey. Record breaking high tides and wave action combined with sustained winds as high as 60 to 70 mph with wind gusts as high as around 90 mph to batter the state. Statewide, Sandy caused an estimated 29.4 billion dollars in damage, destroyed or significantly damaged 30,000 homes and businesses, affected 42,000 additional structures and was responsible directly or indirectly for 38 deaths. A new temporary inlet formed in Mantaloking (Ocean County) where some homes were swept away. About 2.4 million households in the state lost power. It would take two weeks for power to be fully restored to homes and businesses that were inhabitable. In the Mount Holly warning and forecast area of New Jersey, Sandy was responsible for 24 deaths, 8 that are considered directly caused by the system: two drownings, five people killed by fallen trees and one person was blown over by the wind. Hardest hit were the coastal areas of Ocean and Monmouth Counties. As of late December, complete access to the barrier islands of Ocean County was still prohibited. It was expected to take until 2013 before rebuilt gas...

  • Winter Weather01/10/2014

    Western Ocean

    1 death, 115 injured

    What happened

    A winter weather event dropped snow across northwest New Jersey and the Raritan Valley and a wintry mix that became predominately freezing rain across the rest of central Jersey as well as southwest New Jersey on the 10th. This caused hundreds and hundreds of accidents, a couple of which were fatal, during the morning commute, especially in the greater Philadelphia Metropolitan area suburbs and Ocean County. Snowfall in northwest New Jersey and the Raritan Valley averaged 1 to 2 inches. But it was the around one tenth of an inch of ice that fell across southwest New Jersey and the rest of central New Jersey that had the greatest impact.||In the Raritan Basin and northwest New Jersey precipitation started as snow between 6 a.m. EST and 9 a.m. EST on the 10th. Precipitation changed to sleet before it ended in the Raritan Basin. Precipitation ended between 11 a.m. EST and Noon EST that morning. In central New Jersey and the local Philadelphia suburbs in southwest New Jersey, precipitation started briefly as snow between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m EST, but changed quickly to sleet and then freezing rain by 8 a.m. EST. The freezing rain changed to plain rain between 10 a.m. EST and Noon EST...

  • Heat07/04/1999

    Eastern Ocean

    3 deaths, 85 injured

    What happened

    A very strong and oppressive high pressure system that extended from the surface to aloft gave New Jersey a brutal heat wave that included the entire Independence Day weekend. There were seventeen heat related deaths and around 100 reported heat related injuries. High temperatures reached the 90s for the first time on the 3rd, but sweltering humidity and record breaking maximum temperatures of around 100 degrees occurred from Independence Day through the 6th. Even shore areas baked as a strong west to southwest wind prevented cooler air from coming in from the ocean. The combination of the temperature and humidity produced heat indices of around 110 degrees during the afternoon of each day. A cold front moved through the region early in the morning on the 7th. High temperatures reached the 90s from the 7th through the 9th in the southern half of the state, but humidity levels were lower. A stronger cold front moved through during the morning and early afternoon of the 10th and brought in a cooler and drier air mass. So, after some places in extreme southeast New Jersey had high temperatures in the 90s on the 10th, the run of 90 degree highs ended everywhere on the...

Latest storm reports

Newest first

  • Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind07/22/2026

    Manahawkin Arpt, Ocean County

  • Lightning07/18/2026

    Holmeson, Ocean County

    $100K damage

  • Flash Flood07/18/2026

    Seaside Hgts, Ocean County

  • Flash Flood07/18/2026

    Gilford Park, Ocean County

  • Flash Flood07/18/2026

    Seaside Hgts, Ocean County

  • Thunderstorm Wind55 kt wind07/18/2026

    Barnegat Pines, Ocean County

  • Thunderstorm Wind55 kt wind07/18/2026

    Toms River, Ocean County

  • Thunderstorm Wind55 kt wind07/18/2026

    Whiting, Ocean County

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Storms whose track crossed Ocean County, with the wind when it passed

Drinking water

57 community water systems serve about 1,056,181 people. Violations since 2021.

6 systems had health-based violations, such as a contaminant over the legal limit or a missed treatment step. 11 systems had a violation of any kind still open at last report.

Largest systems by population served. Monitoring and reporting violations mean required tests or notices were late or missing, not that the water was unsafe.

Climate

1991-2020 normals at Toms River, 8.3 mi from the county center

Summer highs peak around 86°F in Jul and winter lows bottom out near 22°F in Jan. About 52.0 inches of rain falls in a typical year.

MonthHighLowRain
Jan42°F22°F4.43 in
Feb45°F22°F3.19 in
Mar51°F28°F4.86 in
Apr62°F38°F3.78 in
May71°F49°F3.58 in
Jun80°F58°F3.92 in
Jul86°F64°F4.49 in
Aug84°F62°F5.02 in
Sep77°F53°F4.68 in
Oct67°F42°F4.54 in
Nov56°F32°F3.74 in
Dec47°F27°F5.81 in
Year53°F average52.0 in

Pollution sites

12 Superfund sites and 8 toxic release facilities in Ocean County

Superfund sites

Toxic release facilities

Total: 13,110 lbs in 2024, 10,045 lbs to air.

Superfund sitesToxic release facilitiesEPA inspections and enforcementAir toxics cancer risk27 historic places

Frequently asked questions

How risky is Ocean County for natural disasters?
FEMA rates Ocean County relatively high for overall natural hazard risk, with expected losses of $204M a year. The highest-rated hazards are strong wind (very high), winter weather (very high), coastal flooding (very high).
What storms are most common in Ocean County?
Since 1996, NOAA recorded 2,238 storm events affecting Ocean County, most often thunderstorm wind (374), strong wind (268), winter weather (212).
How many tornadoes have hit Ocean County?
20 tornadoes have been recorded in Ocean County since 1950, including 1 rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
How many homes in Ocean County have flood insurance?
35,624 residential flood insurance policies are in force in Ocean County, covering about 16.6% of homes. The program has paid $2.61B on 52,884 claims here since 1978.
What is the weather like in Ocean County?
At Toms River, average highs reach 86°F in Jul and lows fall to 22°F in Jan, with 52.0 inches of rain a year (1991-2020 normals).

Source: FEMA (National Risk Index, NFIP), NOAA (Storm Events, HURDAT2, Climate Normals), EPA · Last updated 08/01/2026 · Storm counts include events in forecast zones that touch the county. This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.