Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island · Photo: Michael Swanda, U.S. Army Corps of Enginers · Public domainFor coastal flooding, Delaware City’s building-damage rate is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Delaware City gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (52%), then coastal flooding (34%). Flood insurance has paid 9 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 Delaware City’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Delaware City faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Coastal flooding
Earthquakes
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 Delaware City’s grade
River and rain flooding is 52% of the building damage FEMA expects in Delaware City, and Delaware City’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 71% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 34%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
B lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Delaware City’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.3M a year in losses across Delaware City: $860K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Delaware City flood? Rarely: 9 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Delaware City, from FEMA’s records: 12.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd2 claims · $2K
- The Mid-spring storms1 claim · $11K
- Hurricane Sandy1 claim · $15K
Delaware City is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: New Castle County.The storms Delaware City remembers
None of the 13 disasters declared for New Castle County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Delaware City itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19803 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19992 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations, declared for New Castle County
- 20122 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Sandy, declared for New Castle County
New Castle County has had 13 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Delaware City after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Delaware City archive →Get ready for what Delaware City faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
- Delaware City residents get 05% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Delaware City
Is Delaware City at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Delaware City has lower expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (52%) and coastal flooding (34%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Delaware City flood?
Flood insurance has paid 9 claims in Delaware City since 1980, $47K in all, or 12.0 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (2).
Is Delaware City 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 New Castle County, 45% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Delaware City?
Delaware City is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9), which takes 05% 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 Delaware City?
By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 2 paid, $2K.
Is Delaware City at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (52%), and Delaware City’s rate for it is lower than 71% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Delaware City.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Delaware City’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.