Jacob Broom House · Photo: Template:Jack E. Boucher · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Greenville faces less hazard damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greenville gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns, #22 of 37 in Delaware. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%). Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 1990.
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 Greenville 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
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 Greenville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 86% of the building damage FEMA expects in Greenville, and Greenville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 5% (higher than 63% of U.S. census tracts).
B #22 of 37 in Delaware; lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Greenville’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, Greenville has more expected damage per building than 58% of Delaware towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.8M a year in losses across Greenville: $1.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Greenville flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 1990
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Greenville, from FEMA’s records: 3.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 54% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms1 claim · $711
- Hurricane Ida1 claim · $26K
- Hurricane Floyd1 claim · $4K
Greenville 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.The storms Greenville remembers
None of the 13 disasters declared for New Castle County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Greenville itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20032 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Isabel, declared for New Castle County
- 19901 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 19991 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations, 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 Greenville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Greenville archive →Get ready for what Greenville 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.
- 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.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Greenville
Is Greenville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Greenville has lower expected damage per building than 63% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #22 of 37 in Delaware. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (86%) and earthquakes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Greenville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Greenville since 1990, $463K in all, or 3.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 54% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (1).
Is Greenville 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 Greenville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Greenville’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 Greenville?
By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 1 paid, $711.
Is Greenville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (86%), and Greenville’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Greenville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Greenville’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.