Top 10 NJ Towns Receiving Flood Payouts Since 1978

By Scott Gurian, NJ Spotlight

Since it was created in the late 1960s, the National Flood Insurance Program has paid out more than $50 billion to policyholders in all fifty states, US territories and the District of Columbia.

According to FEMA data going back to 1978 – when the agency first began computerizing its records -- Louisiana ranks at the top of the list of NFIP payment recipients, with more than $16 billion in historical losses, largely as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Nearly half of that total – some $7.2 billion -- is due to flood damage in New Orleans alone. After Louisiana, Texas ranks second, with $5.5 billion, and post-Sandy New Jersey comes in a close third place, with $5.4 billion in payouts.

Following is a list of the top 10 communities in the state receiving flood-insurance payouts over the years: