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Natural hazards · West Cape May

West Cape May, NJ natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in West Cape May comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 93 claims here since 1979. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations
Expected damage

How exposed is West Cape May?

74
High
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in West Cape May to be higher than in 74% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and coastal flooding.

Inland flooding45%Coastal flooding22%Hurricanes17%Strong wind8%Everything else8%
By hazard

What West Cape May faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

45% of expected damage
Above average · higher than 61% of U.S. places
Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Coastal flooding

22% of expected damage
Well above average · among the top 1% of U.S. places

Hurricanes

17% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 87% of U.S. places
Recorded about once every 6 years in the area

Strong wind

8% of expected damage
Well above average · among the top 1% of U.S. places
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Lower here

TornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightningDrought

Not a risk here

AvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Flood insurance claims

Does West Cape May flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in West Cape May, from FEMA’s records.

93paid claims since 1979
$478Kpaid to owners
16homes flooded more than once
19792026

Biggest named events

  • Hurricane Gloria: 29 claims, $152K
  • Hurricane Sandy: 6 claims, $54K
  • December Nor'easter: 2 claims, $17K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (2) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured
of all homes
are insured
No community discount. West Cape May isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cape May County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

1homes raised above flood level
Disasters that hit West Cape May

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in West Cape May itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the Borough of West Cape May.

Brought FEMA money into West Cape MayDeclared for Cape May County only
2016

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$7K to the Borough of West Cape May for repairs
2012

Hurricane Sandy

9 households applied for aid $1K aid approved $4K to the Borough of West Cape May for repairs
2011

Hurricane Irene

2 households applied for aid $4K aid approved
2010

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$18K to the Borough of West Cape May for repairs
2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

3 households applied for aid
2009

Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Ida and a Nor'eas

$3K to the Borough of West Cape May for repairs
Cape May County has had 27 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often hurricanes and floods.
Around West Cape May

West Cape May and the towns around it

Cape May: Moderate, mostly inland floodingLower: High, mostly inland floodingMiddle: High, mostly inland floodingWildwood Crest: High, mostly inland floodingCape May Point: High, mostly inland floodingWildwood: Very high, mostly coastal floodingWest Cape May: High, mostly inland flooding West Cape MayCape MayLower
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high
West Cape Maymostly inland floodingHigh
Lowermostly inland floodingHigh
Cape Maymostly inland floodingModerate
About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.
Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. West Cape May covers 1 census tract, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to West Cape May’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Borough of West Cape May. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across West Cape May total about $2.1M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01
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