Hazard Plain Preview: automated baseline

Cape May County, NJ

Risk-assessment baseline packet

Unit
County area 34009
Release
2026-10
As of
2026-09-28
Storm Events data through
2026-06-30

Hazard Plain is an independent product built from public federal data. It is not a FEMA document and is not reviewed or endorsed by FEMA or any state agency.

A starting point for the plan's risk assessment (FEMA Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, Element B). It does not replace local data or FEMA review. Section headings say which FEMA review item each table supports; whether an item is satisfied is decided by the plan and its reviewers.

Hazard Plain release 2026-10, as of 2026-09-28. Independent product; not a FEMA document.

Plan clock

Status
Approved, expires 2031-02-02
Plan
Cape May County 2025 (FEMA plan 111196)
Approved
2026-02-03
Expires
2031-02-02
As of
2026-09-28
Days
1,588 days to expiry

What changed since your last plan (approved 2026-02-03)

New federal declarations
none (0 declaration rows; 0 counted incidents)
Storm Events records since approval
5 (data through 2026-06-30)
Repetitive loss now
FMA RL 85, SRL 545 (44 CFR 77.2); any definition: 2,450
Repeat-flood change
First release: no prior release to compare.

Sources

FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-26T121003Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)

FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-27T010817Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/NfipMultipleLossProperties (API)

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county: 18 rows, in the section "Plan clock: Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county" after these cover pages.

State plan status and tribal plans in this state: see the state page.

Plan clock

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county

JurisdictionTypeStatusPlanApprovedExpiresDays to expirynegative = days since expiryUpdate underwayNotes
Cape May CountyCountyApproved, expires 2031-02-02Cape May County 2025 (FEMA plan 111196)2026-02-032031-02-021,588member approved 2026-02-18
Avalon boroughBoroughApproved, expires 2031-02-02Cape May County 2025 (FEMA plan 111196)2026-02-032031-02-021,588member approved 2026-05-04
Cape May cityCityApproved, expires 2031-02-02Cape May County 2025 (FEMA plan 111196)2026-02-032031-02-021,588member approved 2026-03-10
Cape May Point boroughBoroughApproved, expires 2031-02-02Cape May County 2025 (FEMA plan 111196)2026-02-032031-02-021,588member approved 2026-05-04
North Wildwood cityCityApproved, expires 2031-02-02Cape May County 2025 (FEMA plan 111196)2026-02-032031-02-021,588member approved 2026-02-18
Ocean City cityCityApproved, expires 2031-02-02Cape May County 2025 (FEMA plan 111196)2026-02-032031-02-021,588member approved 2026-02-20
Sea Isle City cityCityApproved, expires 2031-02-02Cape May County 2025 (FEMA plan 111196)2026-02-032031-02-021,588
Stone Harbor boroughBoroughApproved, expires 2031-02-02Cape May County 2025 (FEMA plan 111196)2026-02-032031-02-021,588member approved 2026-02-05
West Cape May boroughBoroughApproved, expires 2031-02-02Cape May County 2025 (FEMA plan 111196)2026-02-032031-02-021,588member approved 2026-02-12
West Wildwood boroughBoroughApproved, expires 2031-02-02Cape May County 2025 (FEMA plan 111196)2026-02-032031-02-021,588member approved 2026-03-10
Wildwood cityCityApproved, expires 2031-02-02Cape May County 2025 (FEMA plan 111196)2026-02-032031-02-021,588member approved 2026-03-02
Wildwood Crest boroughBoroughApproved, expires 2031-02-02Cape May County 2025 (FEMA plan 111196)2026-02-032031-02-021,588member approved 2026-02-05
Woodbine boroughBoroughApproved, expires 2031-02-02Cape May County 2025 (FEMA plan 111196)2026-02-032031-02-021,588member approved 2026-06-04
Dennis townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2031-02-02Cape May County 2025 (FEMA plan 111196)2026-02-032031-02-021,588member approved 2026-02-20
Lower townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2031-02-02Cape May County 2025 (FEMA plan 111196)2026-02-032031-02-021,588member approved 2026-02-05
Middle townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2031-02-02Cape May County 2025 (FEMA plan 111196)2026-02-032031-02-021,588member approved 2026-03-10
Upper townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2031-02-02Cape May County 2025 (FEMA plan 111196)2026-02-032031-02-021,588member approved 2026-02-12
Cape May County Municipal Utilities AuthorityWater/Sewer AuthorityApproved, expires 2031-02-02Cape May County 2025 (FEMA plan 111196)2026-02-032031-02-021,588member approved 2026-03-23

Source

FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-26T121003Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)

Supports B1-a: hazards

Hazards NRI does not cover: check locally

  • dam failure (incl. upstream dams)
  • levee failure
  • flash flood as its own subtype
  • ice jams
  • debris flows
  • erosion (riverine and coastal)
  • land subsidence and sinkholes
  • expansive soils

The 18 National Risk Index hazards, ranked by expected annual loss (EAL)

Rank by EALHazardNRI risk ratingEAL ratingEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearEAL population equivalencestatistical value of life and injury, $13.7M per life, not property damageEAL total (see note)modeled dollars per yearStorm Events records since 1996countEvidence for an omissionNRI Not Applicable, no declaration and no Storm Events record since 1996Storm Events coverage note
1Inland FloodingRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$37,289,723$15,451$1,642,396$38,947,57170
2Coastal FloodingVery HighVery High$30,520,924$181,250$30,702,175122
3HurricaneRelatively ModerateRelatively High$13,913,606$101,177$212,305$14,227,0878
4Strong WindVery HighVery High$6,727,613$638$18,707$6,746,958326Includes 79 High Wind records and 149 Strong Wind records, event types the NRI definition of this hazard leaves out.
5Heat WaveRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderateunder $1$28$4,000,522$4,000,55074
6EarthquakeRelatively LowRelatively Low$901,515$190,092$1,091,607Not in Storm Events. Storm Events coverage of this hazard is limited; absence is not evidence of low risk.
7Cold WaveRelatively LowRelatively Moderate$701$69$1,023,005$1,023,77530Includes 3 Frost/Freeze records, event types the NRI definition of this hazard leaves out.
8WildfireRelatively LowRelatively Low$785,960$124$57,528$843,6113
9TornadoRelatively LowRelatively Low$545,485$93$276,783$822,3613
10LightningRelatively ModerateRelatively Moderate$30,460$489,286$519,74620
11Winter WeatherRelatively HighRelatively High$170,925$3$213,155$384,083149Includes 2 Sleet records, event types the NRI definition of this hazard leaves out.
12DroughtRelatively LowRelatively Low$254,173$254,17338
13Ice StormRelatively LowRelatively Low$58,982$21,377$80,3590Declared 1 time; no Storm Events record of this type.
14HailVery LowVery Low$4,108$5,277$263$9,64828
15LandslideVery LowVery Low$71under $1$710No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30). Storm Events coverage of this hazard is limited; absence is not evidence of low risk.
AvalancheNot ApplicableNot Applicable0NRI rates avalanche Not Applicable for this county, and no federal declaration for this county names it.No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
TsunamiInsufficient DataInsufficient Data1
Volcanic ActivityNot ApplicableNot Applicable0NRI rates volcanic activity Not Applicable for this county, and no federal declaration for this county names it.No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30). Storm Events coverage of this hazard is limited; absence is not evidence of low risk.

Total = buildings + agriculture + population equivalence; FEMA values each expected death (or 10 injuries) at $13.7 million (2024 dollars).

Sources

FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

Check your state hazard mitigation plan's hazard list for this county; explain any hazard you drop.

Supports B1-b: location

Where each hazard occurs

HazardLocationCensus tracts ratedrated of all tracts
AvalancheCensus tract rating counts from the National Risk Index tract table (see B1-f). Tract maps and place names are not in this packet.0 of 32
Coastal FloodingThe FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is the required location source for flooding. See the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (https://msc.fema.gov) for this county.31 of 32
Cold WaveAffects the whole planning area; national data do not distinguish locations within the county. Confirm locally.32 of 32
DroughtAffects the whole planning area; national data do not distinguish locations within the county. Confirm locally.19 of 32
EarthquakeCensus tract rating counts from the National Risk Index tract table (see B1-f). Tract maps and place names are not in this packet.32 of 32
HailAffects the whole planning area; national data do not distinguish locations within the county. Confirm locally.32 of 32
Heat WaveAffects the whole planning area; national data do not distinguish locations within the county. Confirm locally.32 of 32
HurricaneCensus tract rating counts from the National Risk Index tract table (see B1-f). Tract maps and place names are not in this packet.32 of 32
Ice StormAffects the whole planning area; national data do not distinguish locations within the county. Confirm locally.32 of 32
Inland FloodingThe FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is the required location source for flooding. See the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (https://msc.fema.gov) for this county.32 of 32
LandslideCensus tract rating counts from the National Risk Index tract table (see B1-f). Tract maps and place names are not in this packet.32 of 32
LightningAffects the whole planning area; national data do not distinguish locations within the county. Confirm locally.32 of 32
Strong WindAffects the whole planning area; national data do not distinguish locations within the county. Confirm locally.32 of 32
TornadoCensus tract rating counts from the National Risk Index tract table (see B1-f). Tract maps and place names are not in this packet.32 of 32
TsunamiCensus tract rating counts from the National Risk Index tract table (see B1-f). Tract maps and place names are not in this packet.0 of 32
Volcanic ActivityCensus tract rating counts from the National Risk Index tract table (see B1-f). Tract maps and place names are not in this packet.0 of 32
WildfireCensus tract rating counts from the National Risk Index tract table (see B1-f). Tract maps and place names are not in this packet.31 of 32
Winter WeatherAffects the whole planning area; national data do not distinguish locations within the county. Confirm locally.32 of 32

Source

FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)

Supports B1-c: extent

Extent: scale, observed range and worst recorded event per hazard

HazardScaleRecordscount, yearsObserved rangeWorst recorded eventMost damaging (when different)How it applies to membersNote
Avalanchenone (count and damage)0Physical measure: in event narratives only; local data required.
Coastal Flood, Storm Surge/Tidenone in data (FIRM for depth)122, 1996 to 2026 (122 zone-level)Coastal Flood, 2012-10-28, $125,000,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2012 dollars); NWS zone NJZ024 (EASTERN CAPE MAY), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesZone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map.
Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chillwind chill27, 1996 to 2022 (27 zone-level)1 day to 16 days (median 1.5 days); 22 with a recorded value16 consecutive days, 2003-01-14 to 2003-01-29, zone-levelZone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.Wind chill: in event narratives only; local data required. Cold/Wind Chill records from May to September (a frost night, not a cold wave) are counted but not used for the longest run.
Frost/Freeze (outside NRI Cold Wave definition)crop damage3, 2007 to 2007 (3 zone-level)No crop damage reported in 3 records.Zone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.Temperature: in event narratives only; local data required.
DroughtUS Drought Monitor D-scale38, 1997 to 2010 (38 zone-level)1 day to 392 days (median 8 days); 16 with a recorded value392 days (about 12.9 months), 2001-10-30 to 2002-11-25, a run of 14 consecutive Storm Events drought records, zone-levelZone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.Storm Events enters a drought at D2 or worse east of the Rockies and D3 or worse from the Rockies west (NWS Instruction 10-1605); NRI drought counts D3 and D4 only.
EarthquakeModified Mercalli (local data)0No Storm Events record; local data required (e.g., USGS).
Hailhail size (inches)31, 1977 to 20250.75 in to 1.75 in (median 0.88 in); 31 with a recorded value1.75 in hail, 2025-05-16; same size also recorded on 2008-08-10, 2011-06-09Event records naming member places: Cape May city (3 records), Ocean City city (3 records), Wildwood city (2 records), Woodbine borough (2 records), Avalon borough (1 record), West Cape May borough (1 record).
Excessive Heat, Heatheat index (narratives)74, 1996 to 2025 (74 zone-level)1 day to 10 days (median 3 days); 45 with a recorded value10 consecutive days, 2002-08-11 to 2002-08-20, zone-levelZone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.Heat index: in event narratives only; local data required. Heat records from November to March (unseasonable warmth, not a heat wave) are counted but not used for the longest run.
Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical DepressionSaffir-Simpson8, 1996 to 2020 (8 zone-level)Strongest recorded (records with damage, a wind speed or direct casualties first, then storm type, category and wind): Hurricane (Typhoon) record, 1999-09-16, $150,000 property; crops not reported, reported for the zone (1999 dollars); NWS zone NJZ024 (EASTERN CAPE MAY), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesMost damaging recorded: Tropical Storm, 2011-08-27, $5,000,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2011 dollars)Zone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.Storm Events files every zone of a storm's episode under the storm's event type and category, so a Hurricane (Typhoon) record, especially an inland or remnant one, does not by itself mean hurricane-force winds here; read the damage and wind columns.
Ice StormSperry-Piltz (local data)0Ice thickness: in event narratives only; local data required.
Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flooddamage and flood days (FIRM for depth)70, 1997 to 2025 (19 zone-level)Flood, 2011-08-28, $5,000,000 property; $0 crops (2011 dollars)Event records naming member places: Ocean City city (10 records), North Wildwood city (8 records), Avalon borough (4 records), Sea Isle City city (4 records), Stone Harbor borough (4 records), West Wildwood borough (4 records), Wildwood Crest borough (3 records), Cape May city (1 record), West Cape May borough (1 record), Wildwood city (1 record); and 1 more member place (see the XLSX file). Zone-level records (19) apply countywide.Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. Storm Events damage can be $0 or blank even for a major flood, so the worst record here may not be the worst flood; compare FEMA Public Assistance by declaration in B1-d.
Debris Flownone (count and damage)0Physical measure: in event narratives only; local data required.
Lightningannualized frequency (the measure FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook names)20, 2000 to 2024Lightning, 2002-06-05, $50,000 property; $0 crops (2002 dollars)Event records naming member places: Ocean City city (3 records), Avalon borough (2 records), Cape May city (2 records), North Wildwood city (2 records), Stone Harbor borough (1 record), Wildwood city (1 record).Storm Events lists lightning with damage or casualties; physical measure in event narratives only; local data required.
High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI Strong Wind definition)wind speed (kt and mph)228, 1996 to 2026 (228 zone-level)35 kt (40 mph) to 71 kt (82 mph) (median 46 kt (53 mph)); 195 with a recorded value71 kt (82 mph) measured gust, High Wind, 2018-03-02; NWS zone NJZ023 (WESTERN CAPE MAY), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesHigh Wind, 2012-10-29, $150,000,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2012 dollars)Zone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.
Thunderstorm Windwind speed (kt and mph)140, 1970 to 202650 kt (58 mph) to 78 kt (90 mph) (median 52 kt (60 mph)); 111 with a recorded value78 kt (90 mph), measurement type not recorded, Thunderstorm Wind, 1992-12-10Thunderstorm Wind, 2012-06-29, $750,000 property; $0 crops (2012 dollars)Event records naming member places: Cape May city (11 records), Wildwood city (5 records), Sea Isle City city (3 records), Woodbine borough (3 records), Avalon borough (2 records), North Wildwood city (1 record), Ocean City city (1 record), West Cape May borough (1 record), West Wildwood borough (1 record), Wildwood Crest borough (1 record).
TornadoEnhanced Fujita (F before Feb 2007)11, 1952 to 2021F/EF0 to F/EF2 (median F/EF1); 11 with a recorded valueF2 tornado, 1971-08-27, 28.7 mi path length (records before 1996 may include the whole path; rating and listing come from the county where the tornado began), 40 yd wide, $250,000 property; crops not recorded (1971 dollars)Tornado, 1979-09-06, $250,000 property; crops not recorded (1979 dollars)Event records naming member places: Stone Harbor borough (1 record).From 1996 on, tornado records are per-county segments and length is the path length within this county (NWS Instruction 10-1605); records before 1996 may give the whole path length, including the path outside this county, and before 1996 a tornado is listed once, under the county where it began, with the whole path's rating; counties farther along the path may not list it. Length is not used to rank tornadoes.
Tsunaminone (count and damage)1, 2013 to 2013 (1 zone-level)No damage reported in 1 records.Zone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.Physical measure: in event narratives only; local data required.
Volcanic Ash, Volcanic AshfallVolcanic Explosivity Index (local data)0Physical measure: in event narratives only; local data required.
Wildfireacres burned (local data)3, 2002 to 2013 (3 zone-level)Wildfire, 2011-02-19, $10,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2011 dollars); NWS zone NJZ023 (WESTERN CAPE MAY), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesZone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.Acres burned: in event narratives only; local data required.
Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleetnone in data (snowfall local)149, 1996 to 2026 (149 zone-level)Blizzard, 2010-02-06, $50,000,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2010 dollars); NWS zone NJZ023 (WESTERN CAPE MAY), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesZone-level records: applies countywide; national data do not locate these events within the county.Snow depth: in event narratives only; local data required.

Where a hazard names more than 10 member places, the table lists the 10 with the most records; every place is in the XLSX file, sheet "B1-c Extent".

Storm Events records are more complete after 1996; before 1996 only Tornado (from 1950), Hail and Thunderstorm Wind (from 1955) exist. Zone-level records are placed with NWS zone-county files, which exist from 2020 on; an earlier record is placed by its zone number in the nearest later file only when its zone name matches that file, records from zones NWS renumbered are placed by name or left out, and a record whose zone is in no known file is left out of every count, so counts before 2020 can be low. Some current zones are also missing from the NWS files, so recent counts can be low too.

Dollars are nominal (as reported), labeled with the year; not adjusted for inflation.

Sources

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty

Supports B1-d: previous occurrences

Declaration rows
34
Counted incidents
25

Federal disaster declarations for this county

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazardCounty Public Assistancefederal share obligated, nominal dollarsFlagsNotes
2021-09-052021-09-01DR-4614-NJMajor disasterREMNANTS OF HURRICANE IDAHurricane$1,318,298.63
2021-09-022021-09-01EM-3573-NJEmergencyREMNANTS OF HURRICANE IDAHurricanenone foundsame incident as DR-4614
2021-04-282021-01-31DR-4597-NJMajor disasterSEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORMWinter Weather$1,069,029.22
2020-12-112020-08-04DR-4574-NJMajor disasterTROPICAL STORM ISAIASHurricane$1,406,847.30
2020-03-252020-01-20DR-4488-NJMajor disasterCOVID-19 PANDEMICNon-natural, not counted$6,949,781.80
2020-03-132020-01-20EM-3451-NJEmergencyCOVID-19Non-natural, not countednone foundsame incident as DR-4488
2016-03-142016-01-22DR-4264-NJMajor disasterSEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORMWinter Weather$6,068,985.54
2012-10-302012-10-26DR-4086-NJMajor disasterHURRICANE SANDYHurricane$23,636,888.29
2012-10-282012-10-26EM-3354-NJEmergencyHURRICANE SANDYHurricanenone foundsame incident as DR-4086
2011-11-302011-10-29DR-4048-NJMajor disasterSEVERE STORMHazard not mapped (severe storm title names no single hazard); not counted$844,900.77
2011-08-312011-08-27DR-4021-NJMajor disasterHURRICANE IRENEHurricane$1,105,630.72
2011-08-272011-08-26EM-3332-NJEmergencyHURRICANE IRENEHurricanenone foundsame incident as DR-4021
2011-02-042010-12-26DR-1954-NJMajor disasterSEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORMWinter Weather$3,171,114.81
2010-04-022010-03-12DR-1897-NJMajor disasterSEVERE STORMS AND FLOODINGInland Flooding$2,303,090.38
2010-03-232010-02-05DR-1889-NJMajor disasterSEVERE WINTER STORM AND SNOWSTORMWinter Weather$1,919,008.44
2009-12-222009-11-11DR-1867-NJMajor disasterSEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL DEPRESSION IDA AND A NOR'EASHurricane; Inland Flooding$8,223,968.23
2005-09-192005-08-29EM-3257-NJEmergencyHURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATIONHurricane: evacuation support, not a local hazard event; not countednone found
2003-03-202003-02-16EM-3181-NJEmergencySNOWWinter Weather$289,075.09
2001-09-192001-09-11EM-3169-NJEmergencyFIRES AND EXPLOSIONSNon-natural, not counted$12,996.61
2000-11-012000-05-30EM-3156-NJEmergencyWEST NILE VIRUSNon-natural, not countednone found
1999-09-171999-09-16EM-3148-NJEmergencyHURRICANE FLOYD EMERGENCY DECLARATIONSHurricane$20,365.91
1998-03-031998-02-04DR-1206-NJMajor disasterSEVERE WINTER COASTAL STORM, HIGH WINDS, FLOODINGCoastal Floodingnone found
1996-01-131996-01-07DR-1088-NJMajor disasterBLIZZARD OF 96 (SEVERE SNOW STORM)Winter Weathernone found
1993-03-171993-03-13EM-3106-NJEmergencySEVERE BLIZZARDWinter Weathernone found
1992-12-181992-12-10DR-973-NJMajor disasterCOASTAL STORM, HIGH TIDES, HEAVY RAIN, & FLOODINGCoastal Floodingnone found
1992-03-031992-01-04DR-936-NJMajor disasterSEVERE COASTAL STORMCoastal Floodingnone found
1985-10-151985-09-27DR-749-NJMajor disasterHURRICANE GLORIAHurricanenone found
1984-04-121984-03-28DR-701-NJMajor disasterCOASTAL STORMS & FLOODINGCoastal Floodingnone found
1980-10-191980-10-19EM-3083-NJEmergencyWATER SHORTAGEDroughtnone found
1977-02-081977-02-08DR-528-NJMajor disasterICE CONDITIONSIce StormPA not declared for this county
1976-08-211976-08-21DR-519-NJMajor disasterSEVERE STORMS, HIGH WINDS & FLOODINGInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Strong Windnone found
1974-12-241974-12-24EM-3005-NJEmergencySEVERE STORMS, HIGH WINDS & HIGH TIDESCoastal Floodingnone found
1971-09-041971-09-04DR-310-NJMajor disasterHEAVY RAINS & FLOODINGInland Floodingnone found
1965-08-181965-08-18DR-205-NJMajor disasterWATER SHORTAGEDroughtnone found

School districts and special districts in this county: $359,658.43 (included in the county total above). Public Assistance matched by applicant name to the school districts and special districts FEMA lists as plan members in this county. They are not shown as member blocks, so their total is listed here. These dollars are already included in the county PA column of the declarations table (the FEMA record places each applicant in this county); do not add this line to the county total.

County Public Assistance: applicants the FEMA record places in this county, including any state agencies FEMA files there; statewide rows are listed on the state page; federal share obligated, nominal dollars.

Dollars are nominal (as reported), labeled with the year; not adjusted for inflation.

Statewide declarations

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazardFlagsNotes
1962-03-091962-03-09DR-124-NJMajor disasterSEVERE STORM, HIGH TIDES & FLOODINGInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Coastal Flooding
1955-08-201955-08-20DR-41-NJMajor disasterHURRICANE & FLOODSHurricane (primary); also designated: Inland Flooding

FEMA recorded these with designated area Statewide and no county. Listed on every county page in the state; not counted with county rows.

Source

FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-27T010817Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)

Public Assistance not placed in a county in this state: 1 row, $23,724.37

Disaster numberDeclaredApplicantCounty field in FEMA dataPA obligatedfederal share obligated, nominal dollarsWhy not placed
40212011-08-31SOUTH PLAINFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARYMonroe County$23,724.37county field is a county of another state and the applicant name does not identify a place in the declaring state

FEMA's Public Assistance summaries file these applicants under a county field that is not a county of this state (an Alaska school area, the former Valdez-Cordova Census Area, or another state's county), and the applicant name does not identify one place here. They are listed for the whole state and are not in any county total. Check whether any of them worked in your county.

Previous occurrences by hazard, with explicit no-event rows

HazardStorm Events recordsfull periodSince plan approvalrecordsDuring plan reviewrecordsLast 5 yearsrecordsDeclared incidentsdistinct incidentsDeclared since approvaldistinct incidentsPeriodStatement
Avalanche0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Coastal Flooding1221215501996 to 2026-06-30
Cold Wave30001001996 to 2026-06-30Includes 3 Frost/Freeze records, event types the NRI definition of this hazard leaves out.
Drought38000201996 to 2026-06-30
Earthquake000000No Storm Events record; local data required (e.g., USGS).
Hail31011001955 to 2026-06-30
Heat Wave74011001996 to 2026-06-30
Hurricane8000701996 to 2026-06-30
Ice Storm0000101996 to 2026-06-30No Storm Events records of this type; 1 federal declared incident (see declarations table)
Inland Flooding70022401996 to 2026-06-30
Landslide0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Lightning20002001996 to 2026-06-30
Strong Wind3683519101955 to 2026-06-30Includes 79 High Wind records and 149 Strong Wind records, event types the NRI definition of this hazard leaves out.
Tornado11000001950 to 2026-06-30
Tsunami1000001996 to 2026-06-30
Volcanic Activity0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Wildfire3000001996 to 2026-06-30
Winter Weather1491516701996 to 2026-06-30Includes 2 Sleet records, event types the NRI definition of this hazard leaves out.

Sources

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-27T010817Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)

NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty

Notable Storm Events records

DateEvent typeMagnitude or extentDamagenominal dollarsDirect deaths, injuriesindirect not countedLocationFlagsWhy listed
2018-03-02High Wind71 kt (82 mph) measured gustdamage not reported0, 0NWS zone NJZ023 (WESTERN CAPE MAY), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesB1-c worst recorded: High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI Strong Wind definition)
2012-10-28Coastal Flood$125,000,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2012 dollars)0, 0NWS zone NJZ024 (EASTERN CAPE MAY), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesB1-c worst recorded: Coastal Flood, Storm Surge/Tide
2012-08-01Lightning$0 property; $0 crops (2012 dollars)0, 4WILDWOODdeaths or injuries recorded
2011-08-28Flood$5,000,000 property; $0 crops (2011 dollars)0, 0OCEAN CITY to BELLEPLAINB1-c worst recorded: Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flood
2011-07-21Excessive Heat$0 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2011 dollars)0, 5NWS zone NJZ024 (EASTERN CAPE MAY), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesdeaths or injuries recorded
2011-02-19Wildfire$10,000 property; $0 crops, reported for the zone (2011 dollars)0, 0NWS zone NJZ023 (WESTERN CAPE MAY), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesB1-c worst recorded: Wildfire
2005-07-18Heatdamage not reported2, 0NWS zone NJZ023 (WESTERN CAPE MAY), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesdeaths or injuries recorded
2003-01-14Cold/Wind Chilldamage not reported0, 0NWS zone NJZ024 (EASTERN CAPE MAY), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesB1-c worst recorded: Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
2002-08-11Heatdamage not reported0, 0NWS zone NJZ023 (WESTERN CAPE MAY), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesB1-c worst recorded: Excessive Heat, Heat
1999-09-16Hurricane (Typhoon)$150,000 property; crops not reported, reported for the zone (1999 dollars)0, 0NWS zone NJZ024 (EASTERN CAPE MAY), zone-level: may include parts of neighboring countiesB1-c worst recorded: Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical Depression
1992-12-10Thunderstorm Wind78 kt (90 mph), measurement type not recordeddamage not recorded (pre-1996 record)0, 0location not recordedB1-c worst recorded: Thunderstorm Wind
1971-08-27TornadoF2, 28.7 mi path length (records before 1996 may include the whole path; rating and listing come from the county where the tornado began), 40 yd wide$250,000 property; crops not recorded (1971 dollars)0, 0location not recordedB1-c worst recorded: Tornado

The full list is in the XLSX file, sheet "B1-d Storm Events history" (925 rows).

Storm Events records are more complete after 1996; before 1996 only Tornado (from 1950), Hail and Thunderstorm Wind (from 1955) exist. Zone-level records are placed with NWS zone-county files, which exist from 2020 on; an earlier record is placed by its zone number in the nearest later file only when its zone name matches that file, records from zones NWS renumbered are placed by name or left out, and a record whose zone is in no known file is left out of every count, so counts before 2020 can be low. Some current zones are also missing from the NWS files, so recent counts can be low too.

Sources

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty

FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-26T121003Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)

State-declared emergencies are not in federal data. Add them from your state emergency management agency.

Tribal and special-area declarations in this state are listed on the state page.

Supports B1-e: probability

Probability: FEMA annualized frequency and descriptor per hazard

HazardFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)unit per rowUnitIn plain termsDescriptorDescriptor basisNRI events or days in its record period (hail, wind and tornado are area-weighted, so can be fractional)NRI periodLocationNote
Avalancheevents per year1994 to 2023 (30 years)see B1-fNot Applicable in NRI for this county; no descriptor.
Coastal Flooding3.68events per year at a location (modeled)about 3.7 per year at a given location in the countyHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-fDescriptor from NRI: the rate at a location is 1 or more a year, so the county rate is at least that.
Cold Wave0.771event-days per yearabout 0.771 days per yearLikelyevent-days in 12 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (40%)6.22005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywideFrost/Freeze records are not counted in this descriptor: they record crop freezes, not cold waves.
Drought8.01event-days per yearabout 8.01 days per yearLikelyevent-days in 9 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (30%)2312000 to 2025 (25.25 years; D3 and D4 only)countywideNRI gives about 8.01 drought event-days a year here (its annualized frequency over 25.25 years; not its event count divided by the years), but Storm Events has a record in only 9 of 30 years. NRI counts from a different source that records far more events than Storm Events, so this descriptor reads much lower than NRI's frequency; read the two together.
Earthquake0.00115annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county has at least minor-damage shaking in a year: 0.115%not shownmodeledsee B1-fDescriptor not assigned: the NRI value is the chance at a location in the county, not how often the hazard affects the county, and Storm Events does not record earthquakes.
Hail1.08events per yearabout 1.08 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)44.7 (modeled)1986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Heat Wave3.53event-days per yearabout 3.53 days per yearLikelyevent-days in 20 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (66.7%)24.62005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Hurricane0.178events per yearabout 1 in 6 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)621851 to 2024 (Atlantic)see B1-fNRI counts hurricane and tropical storm tracks passing within storm-force wind range; federal declarations are counted separately in B1-d and need not match.
Ice Storm0.238event-days per yearabout 0.238 days per yearevent-days in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)81946-12-31 to 2014-02-12 (67 years)countywideNo recorded event-days, 1996 to 2025; descriptor not assigned
Inland Flooding1.64event-days per yearabout 1.64 days per yearLikelyevent-days in 16 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (53.3%)461996 to 2023 (28 years)see B1-f
Landslide0.0304events per year (modeled)about 1 in 33 yearsPossibleFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Lightning29.7days per year with a strikeabout 29.7 days per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1995 to 2023 (29 years; CONUS)countywide
Strong Wind3.35events per yearabout 3.35 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)621986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Tornado0.169events per yearabout 1 in 6 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1950 to 2023 (EF2+); 1986 to 2023 (EF0-1)see B1-f
Tsunamiannual probability at the most exposed location (used in place of a county value)PossibleStorm Events records in 1 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (3.33%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fDescriptor from Storm Events, not NRI: the NRI value is the chance at a location in the county, not how often the hazard affects the county.
Volcanic Activityannual probabilitynot shownmodeledsee B1-fNot Applicable in NRI for this county; no descriptor.
Wildfire0.00198annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county burns in a year: 0.198%LikelyStorm Events records in 3 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (10%)not shownmodeledsee B1-fDescriptor from Storm Events, not NRI: the NRI value is the chance at a location in the county, not how often the hazard affects the county.
Winter Weather7.01event-days per yearabout 7.01 days per yearHighly likelyevent-days in 28 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (93.3%)56.32005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide

FEMA annualized frequency (modeled) comes from the National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025). It is not recorded events divided by years, and what it measures depends on the hazard. For most hazards it estimates how often the hazard affects this county each year: it counts events or event-days (drought, heat wave, cold wave, winter weather, ice storm and inland flooding are in days per year; lightning is the number of days per year with a recorded cloud-to-ground strike, from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center daily lightning climatology); it may count events in the surrounding area (hail, strong wind, tornado, hurricane and ice storm use a 49 km grid and buffers) and is averaged over the county's area; and some hazards use a minimum value for places with no recorded event. Earthquake, wildfire and coastal flooding are different: FEMA computes them for each census block and averages them over the county, so the value is the chance (for coastal flooding, the modeled number of floods per year) at a location in the county, which is lower than the chance that the hazard strikes somewhere in the county. Earthquake is the chance of at least minor-damage shaking (U.S. Geological Survey model); wildfire is the chance that a location burns in a large fire (U.S. Forest Service burn probability); coastal flooding comes from FEMA flood zones and NOAA high-tide flooding, so it can be above 1 where high-tide flooding is frequent. Tsunami is the value at the county's most exposed location, from recorded events and modeled return periods. For these four hazards the packet gives no "1 in N years" and takes the descriptor from Storm Events (none for earthquake) unless the value is 1 or more a year. Landslide is a U.S. Geological Survey modeled county rate spread by slope susceptibility. Volcanic activity is the chance that a volcano affecting the county erupts in a year. Drought counts only extreme and exceptional drought (D3 and D4). Source: FEMA, National Risk Index Technical Documentation v1.20, sections 5.2.2 (Table 5), 5.2.3, 7.4, 10.4, 16.5, 17.1, 17.3.1, 17.5, 20.3.1, 21.4, 22.4 and 6 to 23.

Sources

FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

Descriptor scale used in this packet (defined per unit)

UnitDescriptorDefinition
events per yearHighly likely1 or more per year
events per yearLikelyabout once in 1 to 10 years
events per yearPossibleabout once in 10 to 100 years
events per yearUnlikelyless than once in 100 years
annual probabilityLikely10% to under 100% chance in a given year
annual probabilityPossible1% to under 10% chance in a given year
annual probabilityUnlikelyunder 1% chance in a given year
event-days (share of years)Highly likelyevent-days recorded in 90% or more of years
event-days (share of years)Likelyevent-days recorded in 10% to under 90% of years
event-days (share of years)Possibleevent-days recorded in some years but under 10% of years
lightning strike-daysHighly likelycloud-to-ground strikes on 1 or more days per year

Sources

FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

Intensity bands: historical frequency (Storm Events)

HazardBandYearsEventscounty-coded recordsYears in periodEvents per yearevents / years
Hail1.00-1.99 in1996 to 202512300.4
Hail2.00 in+1996 to 20250300
Strong Wind (Thunderstorm Wind records)50-64 kt1996 to 202589302.97
Strong Wind (Thunderstorm Wind records)65 kt+1996 to 20253300.1
Strong Wind (Thunderstorm Wind records)unmeasured or below 50 kt1996 to 20254300.133
TornadoEF0-11996 to 20253300.1
TornadoEF2-31996 to 20250300
TornadoEF4-51996 to 20250300
Tornadounrated (EFU)1996 to 20250300

Hail smaller than 1 inch is not counted: on 2010-01-05 the National Weather Service raised its severe-hail threshold from 3/4 inch to 1 inch, so smaller reports became less common after 2009 (NWS Service Change Notice 09-52). NRI hail frequency uses a 0.75 inch threshold.

Source

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

Optional: future conditions. Not a required item in the 2025 FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide; some states ask for it. The federal Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) site gives county exposure to future climate conditions.

Supports B1-f: variation across the planning area

Range of census tract risk within the county

HazardTractsrated of allRisk score minNRI score, 0 to 100MedianMaxTracts by ratingNote
Avalanche0 of 32Not Applicable 32
Coastal Flooding31 of 3269.898.899.9Very High 13, Relatively High 12, Relatively Moderate 2, Relatively Low 2, Very Low 2, No Rating 1
Cold Wave32 of 3223.137.068.0Relatively Moderate 3, Relatively Low 29National data give a county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone) frequency for this hazard, so they cannot show members' hazard differing. The tract range above mostly reflects where buildings and people are. Confirm locally.
Drought19 of 3273.385.894.5Relatively Moderate 2, Relatively Low 14, Very Low 3, No Rating 13National data give a county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone) frequency for this hazard, so they cannot show members' hazard differing. Agriculture is all of NRI's expected annual loss for this hazard in the county, so the tract range above mostly reflects where crop and livestock value is, not where buildings and people are. Confirm locally.
Earthquake32 of 3220.248.877.0Relatively Low 20, Very Low 12
Hail32 of 321.25.923.5Very Low 32National data give a county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone) frequency for this hazard, so they cannot show members' hazard differing. Agriculture is 55% of NRI's expected annual loss for this hazard in the county, so the tract range above mostly reflects where crop and livestock value is, not where buildings and people are. Confirm locally.
Heat Wave32 of 3223.774.997.3Very High 1, Relatively High 11, Relatively Moderate 14, Relatively Low 6National data give a county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone) frequency for this hazard, so they cannot show members' hazard differing. The tract range above mostly reflects where buildings and people are. Confirm locally.
Hurricane32 of 3277.389.194.5Relatively High 11, Relatively Moderate 20, Relatively Low 1
Ice Storm32 of 325.429.355.8Relatively Low 13, Very Low 19National data give a county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone) frequency for this hazard, so they cannot show members' hazard differing. The tract range above mostly reflects where buildings and people are. Confirm locally.
Inland Flooding32 of 3214.272.699.5Very High 3, Relatively High 11, Relatively Moderate 10, Relatively Low 7, Very Low 1
Landslide32 of 3214.734.166.6Very Low 32
Lightning32 of 3229.058.292.3Relatively High 2, Relatively Moderate 21, Relatively Low 9National data give a county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone) frequency for this hazard, so they cannot show members' hazard differing. The tract range above mostly reflects where buildings and people are. Confirm locally.
Strong Wind32 of 3277.696.899.6Very High 17, Relatively High 14, Relatively Moderate 1National data give a county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone) frequency for this hazard, so they cannot show members' hazard differing. The tract range above mostly reflects where buildings and people are. Confirm locally.
Tornado32 of 3218.232.950.4Relatively Low 25, Very Low 7
Tsunami0 of 32Insufficient Data 32
Volcanic Activity0 of 32Not Applicable 32
Wildfire31 of 3224.583.494.5Relatively Moderate 13, Relatively Low 10, Very Low 8, No Rating 1
Winter Weather32 of 3261.684.496.8Very High 1, Relatively High 22, Relatively Moderate 9National data give a county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone) frequency for this hazard, so they cannot show members' hazard differing. The tract range above mostly reflects where buildings and people are. Confirm locally.

Rated tracts only: No Rating (score 0.0), Not Applicable and Insufficient Data tracts are counted but not used for the minimum, median and maximum.

Source

FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)

Per-member block (Starter, confirm locally)

MemberTypePlan statusRepetitive lossFMA RL and SRL (44 CFR 77.2); repeat-flood, any definitionPublic Assistance matchedfederal share obligated, nominal dollarsEvent records naming this placeall years; since the member's planNotes
Cape May CountyCountyApproved, expires 2031-02-02$3,009,738.060; 0No NFIP community ID on this member's plan row. Includes $126,259.27 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4488-NJ, EM-3169-NJ).
Avalon boroughBoroughApproved, expires 2031-02-02FMA RL 5, SRL 33; any 125$5,929,012.829; 0Includes $32,633.22 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4488-NJ).
Cape May cityCityApproved, expires 2031-02-02FMA RL 0, SRL 10; any 68$554,300.8617; 0
Cape May Point boroughBoroughApproved, expires 2031-02-02FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 7$38,322.500; 0
North Wildwood cityCityApproved, expires 2031-02-02FMA RL 19, SRL 95; any 553$11,813,608.7011; 0Includes $844,900.77 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4048-NJ).
Ocean City cityCityApproved, expires 2031-02-02FMA RL 11, SRL 75; any 559$10,112,020.5817; 0Includes $227,970.75 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4488-NJ).
Sea Isle City cityCityApproved, expires 2031-02-02FMA RL 9, SRL 61; any 230$148,180.207; 0
Stone Harbor boroughBoroughApproved, expires 2031-02-02FMA RL 2, SRL 41; any 143$551,191.406; 0
West Cape May boroughBoroughApproved, expires 2031-02-02FMA RL 0, SRL 2; any 16$31,929.053; 0
West Wildwood boroughBoroughApproved, expires 2031-02-02FMA RL 24, SRL 120; any 345$582,876.435; 0
Wildwood cityCityApproved, expires 2031-02-02FMA RL 11, SRL 78; any 252$1,196,390.189; 0Includes $15,206.87 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4488-NJ).
Wildwood Crest boroughBoroughApproved, expires 2031-02-02FMA RL 0, SRL 3; any 23$2,831,318.044; 0
Woodbine boroughBoroughApproved, expires 2031-02-02FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$117,963.766; 0Includes $3,467.07 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4488-NJ).
Dennis townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2031-02-02FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 2$47,994.680; 0
Lower townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2031-02-02FMA RL 1, SRL 4; any 9$1,087,623.070; 0Includes $49,245.63 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4488-NJ).
Middle townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2031-02-02FMA RL 2, SRL 15; any 82$1,700,136.650; 0Includes $18,910.10 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4488-NJ).
Upper townshipTownshipApproved, expires 2031-02-02FMA RL 1, SRL 8; any 36$3,455,705.410; 0Includes $21,548.86 for declarations not counted as hazard incidents (DR-4488-NJ).

Member rows are whole NFIP communities and need not add up to the county total: a community that extends into another county is counted in full on each member row, while the county table counts only its part in this county.

School districts and special districts get a plan clock row only.

Sources

FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-26T121003Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)

FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/NfipMultipleLossProperties (API)

FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-26T151157Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

Supports B2-a and B2-b: assets and impacts

Local data required

County-level starter. The plan must describe impacts for each participant and its own assets.

  • Critical facilities and lifelines per hazard
  • A problem statement per participant per hazard
  • Changes in development in hazard-prone areas since the last approval, or a statement of none (E1-a)
  • Future assets

County-level starter: exposure, expected annual loss and damage since the plan

HazardBuilding exposuremodeled dollarsAgriculture exposuremodeled dollarsPopulation exposedpeopleEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearEAL population equivalencestatistical value of life and injury, $13.7M per life, not property damageEAL as % of exposurebuildings; agriculture where notedStorm Events damage since 2026-02-03county-coded records, property plus crops, nominal dollarsZone-level damage since planproperty plus crops, reported for the zonePublic Assistance since plannominal dollars; see noteNote
AvalancheNot Applicable in NRI for this county
Coastal Flooding$22,915,389,83436,774$30,520,924$181,2500.133%
Cold Wave$40,913,397,858$12,666,24995,244$701$69$1,023,005under 0.0001%
Drought$10,294,637$254,1732.47% (agriculture)NRI has no building exposure for this hazard; agriculture shown
Earthquake$68,273,112,31695,263$901,515$190,0920.00132%
Hail$40,913,397,858$12,666,24995,244$4,108$5,277$263under 0.0001%
Heat Wave$40,913,397,858$12,666,24995,244under $1$28$4,000,522under 0.0001%
Hurricane$40,902,207,827$12,666,24995,223$13,913,606$101,177$212,3050.034%
Ice Storm$40,685,468,65994,863$58,982$21,3770.000145%
Inland Flooding$40,717,890,249$1,030,70932,525$37,289,723$15,451$1,642,396n/a (see note)NRI counts the full building value of any census block with some flood loss; this is not the value of buildings in the floodplain. Use local FIRM overlays for B2-a/B2-b. EAL as % of exposure: n/a.
Landslide$85,076,350109$71under $1under 0.0001%
Lightning$40,913,397,85895,244$30,460$489,286under 0.0001%
Strong Wind$40,913,397,858$12,666,24995,244$6,727,613$638$18,7070.0164%
Tornado$40,913,397,858$12,666,24995,244$545,485$93$276,7830.00133%
TsunamiNRI publishes no building exposure for this county
Volcanic ActivityNot Applicable in NRI for this county
Wildfire$4,072,557,258$8,311,14717,970$785,960$124$57,5280.0193%
Winter Weather$40,913,397,858$12,666,24995,244$170,925$3$213,1550.000418%$0

Totals since 2026-02-03 (Storm Events through 2026-06-30): 2 county-coded records, 0 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $0; 3 zone-level records, 1 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $0 reported for the zone; Public Assistance on counted declarations none found (0 declarations, 0 with PA).

Total = buildings + agriculture + population equivalence; FEMA values each expected death (or 10 injuries) at $13.7 million (2024 dollars).

FEMA does not split Public Assistance by hazard. A declaration mapped to several hazards is listed under each of them with its full amount, so the per-hazard column must not be added up; the unit total counts each declaration once.

Dollars are nominal (as reported), labeled with the year; not adjusted for inflation.

Sources

FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)

NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/

NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty

FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-27T010817Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)

FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-26T151157Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)

FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-26T121003Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)

Supports B2-a: context

County context

MeasureValue
Population95,244
Building value (total, not at risk)$40,913,397,858
Agriculture value (total, not at risk)$12,666,249
NRI risk rating (all hazards)Relatively Moderate
Expected annual loss, buildings and agriculture, all hazards$91,327,106
Expected annual loss, population equivalence, all hazards (NRI values each statistical life at $13.7M; a modeled value of expected deaths and injuries, not property damage)$8,326,669
Social vulnerability ratingRelatively Low
Community resilience ratingVery High
NRI versionDecember 2025

FEMA's all-hazard expected annual loss total adds buildings, agriculture and population equivalence; the two parts are shown separately so the property figure is not read as including the statistical value of life.

Source

FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)

Supports B2-c: repetitive loss

Repetitive loss in this county, both definitions

DefinitionPropertiesSevere repetitive lossProperties
Repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)85Severe repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)545
Repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition2,286Severe repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition392

Your state NFIP coordinator's list may use the NFIP insurance definition, so its counts can be higher.

Repeat-flood properties: county and state-level rows

ScopeRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
County total855452,2863922,4501621,019
LOWER, TOWNSHIP OF1483914
MIDDLE, TOWNSHIP OF215801382220
UPPER, TOWNSHIP OF183463628
WEST CAPE MAY, BOROUGH OF021511615
DENNIS, TOWNSHIP OF0020200
AVALON, BOROUGH OF533108171251759
CAPE MAY, CITY OF01064668415
CAPE MAY POINT, BOROUGH OF0070702
NORTH WILDWOOD, CITY OF1995544865539214
OCEAN CITY, CITY OF11755315155929238
SEA ISLE CITY, CITY OF9611962723030140
STONE HARBOR, BOROUGH OF241125241431878
WEST WILDWOOD, BOROUGH OF241203209734529116
WILDWOOD, CITY OF11782295825220111
WILDWOOD CREST, BOROUGH OF032332309
State level, not in this county: county not reported0150610

Repeat-flood properties by plan member (NFIP community)

MemberNFIP community IDRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredpropertiesNote
Avalon borough345279533108171251759
Cape May city34528801064668415
Cape May Point borough3452890070702
North Wildwood city3453081995544865539214
Ocean City city34531011755315155929238
Sea Isle City city3453189611962723030140
Stone Harbor borough345323241125241431878
West Cape May borough340160021511615
West Wildwood borough345328241203209734529116
Wildwood city34532911782295825220111
Wildwood Crest borough345330032332309
Woodbine borough3401640000000
Dennis township3405520020200
Lower township3401531483914
Middle township340154215801382220
Upper township340159183463628

Per-member types: XLSX sheet 'B2-c Members'.

Member rows are whole NFIP communities and need not add up to the county total: a community that extends into another county is counted in full on each member row, while the county table counts only its part in this county.

County repeat-flood properties by occupancy group

Occupancy groupRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
single-family residential622871,2522051,34495573
2 to 4 unit residential71194228145935125
other residential9483012832117238
non-residential791311783261583
not reported0000000

Institutional properties cannot be separated in this data: FEMA's occupancy groups have no institutional class, so they fall in non-residential or other residential in the table by occupancy group.

FMA RL and FMA SRL are the Flood Mitigation Assistance definitions (44 CFR 77.2), the ones the FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide cites; OpenFEMA's fmaRl field description omits the Increased Cost of Compliance clause of 44 CFR 77.2(i). NFIP repetitive loss (FEMA insurance definition, nfipRl) is 2 or more claims over $1,000 in 10 years and can drop to false when a property is mitigated. Also shown: NFIP severe repetitive loss, any category, mitigated and currently insured.

Your state NFIP coordinator's list may use the NFIP insurance definition, so its counts can be higher.

Counts are aggregates of FEMA's public NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (as of 2026-08-02). No property is identified. County assignment is FEMA's geocode.

Counts may differ from your state NFIP coordinator's list, which is the source the Handbook names.

In this county 24 properties are FMA repetitive loss but not NFIP repetitive loss, and 2,225 properties are NFIP repetitive loss but not FMA repetitive loss.

Exact counts; no count suppression.

Sources

Every table above lists its own sources. The full list, for the plan's bibliography (FEMA review item A4-a):

  1. FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-26T121003Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)
  2. FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-27T010817Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)
  3. FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-26T151157Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)
  4. FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/NfipMultipleLossProperties (API)
  5. FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)
  6. NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/
  7. NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-28, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty
  8. U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2024 Gazetteer, 2020 place by county, CT county-to-cousub crosswalk, version 2024-gazetteer, pulled 2026-09-28, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_counties_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_cousubs_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_place_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_unsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_elsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_scsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes2020/national_place_by_county2020.txt, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/ct_change/ct_cou_to_cousub_crosswalk.xlsx

OpenFEMA disclaimer

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Hazard Plain is an independent product built from public federal data. It is not a FEMA document and is not reviewed or endorsed by FEMA or any state agency.

Reuse, citation and corrections

Reuse and citation: Hazard Plain text and tables are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/); credit Hazard Plain and the release. The underlying federal data are public domain; OpenFEMA data are also subject to the OpenFEMA terms and conditions.

Cite this: Hazard Plain (2026). Cape May County, NJ: risk-assessment baseline packet, release 2026-10 (data as of 2026-09-28; County area 34009). Preview: automated baseline. Built from FEMA OpenFEMA, the FEMA National Risk Index and NOAA NCEI Storm Events; source versions in the packet's Sources list.

Corrections: to report an error, name the packet, the table and what your records show. Contact: to be added

Hazard Plain release 2026-10. As of 2026-09-28; Storm Events data through 2026-06-30. File hazard-plain_2026-10_NJ_34009. Preview: automated baseline.