Surf City, NJ Flood Zone Lookup
Last updated: March 2026
Surf City is a barrier island community on Long Beach Island in Ocean County. The narrow island faces Atlantic Ocean storm surge and Barnegat Bay flooding during hurricanes and nor'easters.
Ocean County has recorded 52,870 NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, totaling $2.4B in payouts. Explore the full NFIP claims data by state and county to see how this area compares nationally.
FEMA Region
Region 2
NFIP Policies
48,022
Ocean County
Avg. Premium
$1,063/yr
Ocean County
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Ocean County
Based on FEMA's National Risk Index, which evaluates flood risk at the county level using historical loss data, exposure, and vulnerability.
Inland Flood Risk
Relatively HighEst. annual loss: $99.8M
Coastal Flood Risk
Very HighEst. annual loss: $19.2M
Hurricane Risk
Relatively HighEst. annual loss: $13.4M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Ocean County
Ocean County has been included in 13 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 5 earlier declarations since 1971.
These declarations affected communities across Ocean County, including Surf City.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Ocean County
Properties in Ocean County have filed 52,870 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $2.4B in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $46K.
Highest-Claim Years
2012
37,797 claims - $2.3B
1992
6,929 claims - $66.8M
2011
1,156 claims - $17.3M
Claims by Flood Zone
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced March 2026. See national claims data.
Flood Insurance Coverage: Ocean County
Only roughly 1 in 5 households in Ocean County carries NFIP flood insurance (19% of estimated households).
Penetration Rate
19%
roughly 1 in 5 households
Historical Claims Ratio
1 in 1
52,870 claims over 45+ years across 48,022 current policies
Avg. Claim Payout
$46,106
Per claim, county-wide since 1978
Historically, Ocean County has averaged 1.1 claims for every active policy (since 1978). This compares cumulative claims against today's policy count and does not predict future claim likelihood.
Coverage data: NFIP policies as of March 2026, claims since 1978 (March 2026), population from FEMA NRI. All figures are county-wide and include Surf City.
What Your Flood Zone Means in Surf City
Surf City is primarily at risk from coastal flooding, including hurricane storm surge, tidal flooding, and wave action. Coastal storms can push seawater inland with little warning, and properties in VE (Velocity) zones face the most severe exposure to breaking waves. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Surf City are Zone AE, Zone VE, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $99.8M. The county is rated "Very High" for coastal flood risk by FEMA's National Risk Index. Properties in Surf City's VE zones face additional wave action risk beyond still-water flooding, which typically results in higher insurance premiums and stricter building requirements.
Coastal flood insurance premiums in Surf City are typically higher than inland areas due to the destructive force of storm surge and wave action. Properties in VE zones face the highest premiums because wave damage compounds the risk beyond still-water flooding. If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance.
Coastal flood maps are among the most frequently updated in the FEMA system, as shoreline erosion and new storm surge modeling refine the boundaries. Letters of Map Revision (LOMR) may shift VE and AE zone boundaries after major storms or updated coastal studies. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Surf City address.
Repetitive Loss Properties: Ocean County
Ocean County has 1,451 properties with multiple flood insurance losses, including 134 severe repetitive loss properties. 205 properties have received FEMA mitigation funding. Severe repetitive loss is a subset of multiple loss, not a separate count. Data sourced March 2026.
Multiple Loss
1,451
2+ claims within 10 years
Severe Repetitive Loss
134
4+ claims or 2 exceeding value
Mitigated
205
Received FEMA mitigation
By Flood Zone
Zone data available for 1,446 of 1,451 properties.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Multiple Loss Properties. Data sourced March 2026.
Recorded Flood Events: Ocean County
NOAA has recorded 100 flood events in Ocean County since 1996, causing $18.1M in damage.
Costliest Events
Events by Type
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 1996-2026. Data sourced March 2026.
Flood Mitigation: Ocean County
FEMA has funded mitigation for 1,189 properties in Ocean County, investing $5.3M in flood risk reduction. Common mitigation actions include acquisition (buying and demolishing flood-prone structures), elevation (raising buildings above flood level), and safe rooms (wind/storm shelters for tornado and hurricane protection).
By Action Type
Source: OpenFEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance. Data sourced March 2026.
Flood Insurance Discount: Surf City
Surf City participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program that rewards communities for flood mitigation efforts beyond minimum NFIP requirements. Residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area may qualify for reduced flood insurance premiums.
CRS Class
Class 7
SFHA Premium Discount
15% off
CRS classes range from 1 (best) to 10 (no discount). Surf City's Class 7 rating means NFIP policyholders in the SFHA can receive up to a 15% discount on their flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 5% discount.
Source: FEMA Community Rating System, April 2026. Discounts apply to NFIP policies only.
Surf City, NJ Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Surf City, NJ?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Surf City are Zone AE, Zone VE, Zone X. Properties in these high-risk zones (SFHA) may require flood insurance with a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage.
Is flood insurance required in Surf City?
If your Surf City property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not federally required to carry flood insurance, though coverage is still recommended since over 40% of all NFIP flood claims come from Zone X properties.
How do I check my flood zone in Surf City?
Enter your Surf City address in the search tool above for an instant flood zone determination. Results include your FEMA flood zone, SFHA status, base flood elevation (if available), and FIRM panel information, pulled directly from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer.
Does Surf City offer flood insurance discounts?
Yes. Surf City participates in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) with a Class 7 rating, qualifying residents in the Special Flood Hazard Area for up to a 15% discount on NFIP flood insurance premiums. Properties outside the SFHA may receive a 5% discount.
Has Surf City experienced major flooding events?
Ocean County, where Surf City is located, has been part of 13 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Remnants of Hurricane Ida in 2021. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Surf City?
Ocean County has recorded 52,870 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $2.4B in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2012, with 37,797 claims and $2.3B in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Surf City.
How many flood insurance policies are active in Surf City?
Ocean County currently has 48,022 active NFIP flood insurance policies with an average annual premium of $1,063. The most policies are in Zone AE (39,205 policies). These figures cover all active NFIP policies in the county.
How many Surf City properties have flooded repeatedly?
Ocean County has 1,451 properties with multiple flood losses on record, including 134 severe repetitive loss properties. These are properties that have experienced four or more NFIP claims of $5,000+ or two claims exceeding the building value.
Can my Surf City property be removed from a high-risk flood zone?
Yes, if your property's natural ground elevation is above the Base Flood Elevation and FEMA inadvertently mapped it in a high-risk zone, you can apply for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). A successful LOMA removes the property from the Special Flood Hazard Area, generally eliminating the federal mandatory flood insurance requirement. You will need an elevation certificate from a licensed surveyor. If a property was raised above the BFE with fill material, the process is a LOMR-F rather than a LOMA.
What is Base Flood Elevation in Surf City?
Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is the predicted height of floodwaters during a 1% annual chance (100-year) flood, shown on FEMA maps as an elevation number in feet above sea level. In Surf City's Zone AE and Zone VE areas, BFE lines appear on the FIRM as wavy contours labeled with elevation values. Properties with a lowest floor at or above the BFE typically qualify for significantly lower NFIP flood insurance premiums.
Other New Jersey Cities
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Disclaimer: Flood risk data on this page is sourced from FEMA datasets including the National Risk Index, NFIP claims and policy records, disaster declarations, and the Community Rating System. These datasets were last extracted on March 2026 and may not reflect the most recent changes. This page is for informational purposes only and is not a certified flood zone determination. Always verify current flood zone status through FEMA or a licensed determination provider before making property, insurance, or lending decisions.