Photo: Conn, Kit at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Bethany Beach than in 87% of U.S. towns, led by coastal flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bethany Beach gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is coastal flooding (49%), then river and rain flooding (32%). Flood insurance has paid 397 claims here since 1980.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Bethany Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Bethany Beach faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Coastal flooding
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Bethany Beach’s grade
Coastal flooding is 49% of the building damage FEMA expects in Bethany Beach, and Bethany Beach’s rate of coastal flooding damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 32% (lower than 55% of U.S. census tracts).
D higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Bethany Beach’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.7M a year in losses across Bethany Beach: $2.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Bethany Beach flood? Yes: 397 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Bethany Beach, from FEMA’s records: 152.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy87 claims · $539K
- Hurricane Gloria26 claims · $181K
- The December Storm - nor’easter2 claims · $9K
Bethany Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Sussex County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Bethany Beach
Disasters that paid out in Bethany Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Bethany Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$15K to the Town of Bethany Beach for repairs87 flood claims paid for it, $539K
- 2011Hurricane Irene$8K to the Town of Bethany Beach for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $3K
- 2010Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms$8K to the Town of Bethany Beach for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Hurricane Isabel$9K to the Town of Bethany Beach for repairs
Sussex County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Bethany Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Bethany Beach archive →Get ready for what Bethany Beach faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
- Bethany Beach residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Bethany Beach
Is Bethany Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Bethany Beach has higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is coastal flooding (49%) and river and rain flooding (32%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Bethany Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 397 claims in Bethany Beach since 1980, $2.8M in all, or 152.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 49 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (87).
Is Bethany Beach in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Sussex County, 61% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 12.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Bethany Beach?
Bethany Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Bethany Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Bethany Beach, Hurricane Sandy (2012): $15K to the Town of Bethany Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 87 paid, $539K.
Is Bethany Beach at risk from coastal flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (49%), and Bethany Beach’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Bethany Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Bethany Beach’s residents lived in the 2020 census; 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. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.