Atlantic County, NJ
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Atlantic County has experienced 36 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Remnants Of Hurricane Ida in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Atlantic County's highest-rated hazards are strong wind, winter weather, and coastal flooding, with its top risk rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 19% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (85th percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Atlantic County has been designated in 36 declarations since 1965, covering 10 disaster types including hurricane (10), severe storm (8), snowstorm (6).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Isaias |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
Showing the 10 most recent of 36 total declarations since 1965.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | 94.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 92.7 | 27 | 0 | $50K |
| Coastal Flooding | Very High | 96.2 | 29 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 88 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 89.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 53.2 | 2 | 0 | $30K |
| Hurricane | Relatively High | 95.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 47.5 | 7 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very High | 99.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 97.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 66.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 81.6 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 92 | 2 | 0 | $20 |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 84.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 37.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Insufficient Data | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Atlantic County ranks in the 85th percentile (High) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 85th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 77th | High |
| Household characteristics | 68th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 83rd | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 90th | High |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 81st | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 83rd | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 35.5% | — |
NOAA tracked 67 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 37 in 2016–20 vs 30 in 2021–25 (-19% — frequency decreasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Atlantic County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Atlantic County, New Jersey are strong wind, winter weather, and coastal flooding. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Atlantic County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Atlantic County has received 36 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (10 declarations).
Has Atlantic County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Atlantic County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Remnants Of Hurricane Ida in 2021.
How does Atlantic County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Ocean County, NJ has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Cumberland County, NJ has the lowest (Relatively Moderate). Atlantic County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Atlantic County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Atlantic County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Atlantic County's composite score of 93 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 93% of US counties.