Barnegat, Manahawkin Residents Report Millions in Sandy-Related Losses

An interactive map, produced by New Jersey Spotlight and published late last week, provides a complete breakdown of every insurance claim paid in New Jersey since Hurricane Sandy by town, giving further insight into the totality of losses suffered during the late-October storm.  

Information from the color-coded map was compiled using the most recent data from the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI).

Based on the most recent data, the Barnegat area — encompassing the area with an 08005 ZIP code — incurred nearly $7.9 million in losses, with about $7.4 million paid. A total of 1202 claims were filed, with 800 paid and 301 closed without payment.

Based on the most recent data, the Manahawkin area — encompassing the area with an 08050 ZIP code — incurred just over nearly $74 million in losses, with about $68 million paid. A total of 5042 claims were filed, with 3475 paid and 1069 closed without payment.

To view the map, click here.

Towns with minimal losses — those with under $200,000 in paid out claims - are represented by a light yellow color. Towns that have suffered more than $25 million in losses, which includes most of the state's coastal communities, as well as large portions of Monmouth and Ocean counties, are shown in mahogany.

According to the report, the total cost of insurance claims paid to New Jersey residents and business owners following losses incurred during Hurricane Sandy is expected to reach at least $7.5 billion.

As of the end of March, individuals and business owners filed a total of 516,326 claims. In the five months following Sandy, 90 percent of the claims have been paid.

Currently, insurers have paid $6.1 billion in claims, including $2.9 billion for flood damage, according to the DOBI data. The next highest total is residential claims, which currently total more than $1.4 billion in New Jersey.

While coastal communities suffered the most significant damage during Sandy, the area with the largest losses includes densely populated areas along the Hackensack River and Meadowlands.

In all, six areas had more than $100 million in losses. In addition to the area listed above, Toms River, Newark South Station, Point Pleasant, Long Beach, and Newark's Ironbound district each suffered more than $100 million in losses due to the storm.