Photo: Dough4872 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Elsmere’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elsmere gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #35 of 37 in Delaware. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). Flood insurance has paid 31 claims here since 1978.
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 Elsmere’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Elsmere 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
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 Elsmere’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Elsmere, and Elsmere’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
C #35 of 37 in Delaware; higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Elsmere’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Delaware town has lower expected damage than 65% of U.S. towns; within the state, Elsmere has more expected damage per building than 94% of Delaware towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.4M a year in losses across Elsmere: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Elsmere flood? Sometimes: 31 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Elsmere, from FEMA’s records: 13.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd3 claims · $24K
- Hurricane Irene2 claims · $19K
Elsmere isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: New Castle County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Elsmere
Disasters that paid out in Elsmere itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Elsmere), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$9K to the Town of Elsmere for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$3K to the Town of Elsmere for repairs2 flood claims paid for it, $19K
- 2010Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms$14K to the Town of Elsmere for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding From the Remnants of$22K to the Town of Elsmere for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Hurricane Isabel1 households applied for aid$1K aid approved$9K to the Town of Elsmere for repairs
- 2003Snow$9K to the Town of Elsmere for repairs
Show all 7
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$8K to the Town of Elsmere for repairs3 flood claims paid for it, $24K
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 Elsmere after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Elsmere archive →Elsmere and its neighbors
Elsmere is 2nd of the 2 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 202 |
| Elsmere | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Elsmere 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.
- 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Elsmere
Is Elsmere at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Elsmere has higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #35 of 37 in Delaware. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Elsmere flood?
Flood insurance has paid 31 claims in Elsmere since 1978, $391K in all, or 13.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 79% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 2 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (3).
Is Elsmere 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 Elsmere?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Elsmere’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Elsmere?
By FEMA money that reached Elsmere, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding From the Remnants of (2004): $22K to the Town of Elsmere for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 3 paid, $24K.
Is Elsmere at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Elsmere’s rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Elsmere.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Elsmere’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.