Cape May County, New Jersey Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NJ
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 91th
Cape May County faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 91.0, 91th national percentile), driven primarily by coastal flood and strong wind exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $100M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Cape May County at medium composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 91.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 91st national percentile and near the national midpoint for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Cape May County's expected losses come from coastal flood (seawater inundation from storm surge, high tides, and rising sea levels) at Very High risk — $31M in expected annual loss and about 3.68 events per year; strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Very High risk — $7M in expected annual loss and about 3.35 events per year; and hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $14M in expected annual loss and about 0.18 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $100M in expected annual loss for a population of 95K.
Beyond physical exposure, Cape May County has a low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Cape May County has received 34 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 10 for hurricane events and 6 for snowstorm events. The most recent was Remnants of Hurricane Ida (hurricane), declared in September 2021.
Among 21 New Jersey counties, Cape May County ranks #14 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Coastal Flood | Very High | 3.68 / yr | $31M |
| Strong Wind | Very High | 3.35 / yr | $7M |
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.18 / yr | $14M |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 3.53 / yr | $4M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.64 / yr | $39M |
| Winter Weather | High | 7.01 / yr | $384K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $844K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Medium | 29.74 / yr | $520K |
| Drought | Low | 8.01 / yr | $254K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.77 / yr | $1M |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.24 / yr | $80K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.17 / yr | $822K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.03 / yr | $71 |
| Hail | Very Low | 1.08 / yr | $10K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Cape May County has received 34 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Remnants of Hurricane Ida in September 2021. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (10), Snowstorm (6), Severe Storm (5).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| September 2021 | Hurricane | Remnants of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2021 | Hurricane | Remnants of Hurricane Ida |
| April 2021 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| December 2020 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Isaias |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| March 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| October 2012 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| October 2012 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| November 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 34 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Cape May County?
Cape May County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 91.0 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 91th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Cape May County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Coastal Flood (Very High, $31M EAL), Strong Wind (Very High, $7M EAL), Hurricane (Medium, $14M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Cape May County compare to other New Jersey counties?
Cape May County ranks #14 of 21 New Jersey counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Cape May County had?
FEMA records 34 federal disaster declarations for Cape May County since 1965, most often 10 for hurricane events and 6 for snowstorm events. The most recent was Remnants of Hurricane Ida, declared in September 2021.
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. Cape May County's $100M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.