Ocean City, NJ
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Ocean City is rated Relatively Moderate for overall natural hazard risk — near the middle compared to other US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Cape May County, NJ. The county's highest-rated hazards are coastal flooding, strong wind, and hurricane.
Storm events near Ocean City
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Ocean City's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Ocean City itself, not the whole county.
County-wide hazard risk
Every other hazard FEMA and NOAA track — including drought — is only scored at the county level. These are Cape May County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Ocean City along with the rest of the county, not a Ocean City-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 86.4 | Relatively Low |
| Inland Flooding | 89.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | 99.4 | Very High |
| Earthquake | 73.9 | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | 92.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 38.3 | Relatively Low |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 50.9 | Relatively Low |
| Drought | 57.9 | Relatively Low |
| Hail | 4.2 | Very Low |
| Hurricane | 93.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice Storm | 47.7 | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | 15.6 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 70.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | 98.5 | Very High |
| Tsunami | — | Insufficient Data |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 88.6 | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Cape May County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Cape May County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Ocean City, NJ at risk of?
Ocean City is rated Relatively Moderate for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — near the middle compared to other US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Cape May County, where Ocean City is located, are coastal flooding, strong wind, and hurricane.
What is Ocean City's biggest natural hazard risk?
Coastal Flooding is the highest-rated hazard for Cape May County, where Ocean City is located, scoring 99.4 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Very High").
Is Ocean City a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Ocean City carries near the middle compared to other US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively Moderate" for Cape May County.
Has Ocean City had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 5 tornado, 10 hail, 54 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Ocean City since 2016.