Monmouth County

New Jersey — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

High

Composite Risk Score

96.3

National percentile: 96th

Monmouth County faces high composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 96.3, 96th national percentile), driven primarily by strong wind and heat wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $282M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $282M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Very High Capacity to recover
Population 643K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Strong Wind
Very High $91M/yr
Heat Wave
High $24M/yr
Lightning
Very High $4M/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Strong Wind Very High 5.81 / yr $91M
Heat Wave High 6.66 / yr $24M
Lightning Very High 31.54 / yr $4M
Winter Weather Very High 9.20 / yr $1M
Riverine Flood High 3.54 / yr $110M
Ice Storm High 0.70 / yr $2M
Earthquake Medium 0.00 / yr $14M
Hurricane Medium 0.18 / yr $17M
Coastal Flood High 3.74 / yr $8M
Wildfire Low 0.00 / yr $1M
Cold Wave Medium 0.84 / yr $7M
Drought Medium 3.98 / yr $725K
Tornado Low 0.21 / yr $2M
Landslide Very Low 0.14 / yr $535
Hail Very Low 1.93 / yr $148K
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 Monmouth County?

Monmouth County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 96.3 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 Monmouth County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Strong Wind (Very High, $91M EAL), Heat Wave (High, $24M EAL), Lightning (Very High, $4M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Monmouth County compare to other New Jersey counties?

Monmouth County ranks #5 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. Monmouth County's $282M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.