Enter any address in Ocean County, New Jersey to see its FEMA flood zone
Coastal flooding is the dominant flood character in Ocean County, NJ, with 140 recorded events in the last 30 years. Recent events include coastal flooding observed in October 2025, where a coastal storm caused strong winds to push water towards the shoreline and into back bays, leading to moderate to locally major high tide levels. Another coastal flood event in October 2025 resulted from an area of low pressure causing onshore easterly flow, pushing water towards the coast and back bay communities, leading to moderate tidal flooding.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows a significant number of claims in Zone A, with 40,629 claims averaging $46,204. Properties in Zone A and Zone V, which have experienced the most claims and highest average payouts, should pay particular attention to flood risk. Homeowners in coastal areas and those located near back bays are most likely to be affected by these events.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
67 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Ocean County, New Jersey has recorded 313 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 74 flash floods and 49 river or area floods. The county has received 33 federal disaster declarations, 5 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1965–2025)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Jones Road Fire | Fire | Apr 22, 2025 |
| Remnants Of Hurricane Ida | Hurricane | Sep 1, 2021 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Jan 31, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Severe Storm | Jan 22, 2016 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 26, 2012 |
| Hurricane Irene | Hurricane | Aug 27, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Dec 26, 2010 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Mar 12, 2010 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 31, 2025 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 31, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Oct 30, 2025 | — |
| Coastal Flood | Aug 21, 2025 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Oct 12, 2025 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 1, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Sep 23, 2024 | — |
| Coastal Flood | Jan 13, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Apr 11, 2024 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 31, 2025
A stationary front sparked off showers and thunderstorms across the forecast area. Flash flooding resulted.
Coastal Flood — Oct 30, 2025
An area of low pressure moved over New Jersey, with onshore easterly flow pushing water towards the New Jersey coast and back bay communities. This resulted in Moderate Tidal Flooding along the northern NJ coast.
Coastal Flood — Aug 21, 2025
Storm surge from Hurricane Erin and an upcoming New Moon resulted in moderate to locally major high tide levels on the night of August 21, 2025 across coastal areas of New Jersey.
Flash Flood — Jul 14, 2025
An approaching cold front sparked off showers and thunderstorms across the forecast area. Flash flooding resulted.
Coastal Flood — Oct 12, 2025
A powerful coastal storm sat off the New Jersey coast, with strong winds pushing water towards the shoreline and into the back bays of New Jersey. Moderate to locally major high tide levels were observed along the coast. Tidal flooding continued over multiple high tide cycles.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Ocean County, New Jersey:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Ocean County, New Jersey that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.