St. George's Chapel · Photo: Antony-22 · CC BY-SA 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Long Neck than in 65% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Long Neck gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (38%), then hurricanes (38%). Flood insurance has paid 21 claims here since 1982.
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 Long Neck’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Long Neck 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
Hurricanes
Coastal 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 Long Neck’s grade
River and rain flooding is 38% of the building damage FEMA expects in Long Neck, and Long Neck’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 90% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 20%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Long Neck’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Long Neck: $819K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Long Neck flood? Sometimes: 21 flood claims since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Long Neck, from FEMA’s records: 9.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy6 claims · $37K
- The 2025-10-nor’easter1 claim · $8K
Long Neck isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Sussex County.The storms Long Neck remembers
None of the 15 disasters declared for Sussex County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Long Neck itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19987 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storms, High Winds, and Flooding, declared for Sussex County
- 20126 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Sandy, declared for Sussex County
- 20163 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm, declared for Sussex County
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 Long Neck after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Long Neck archive →Get ready for what Long Neck 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Long Neck
Is Long Neck at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Long Neck has lower expected damage per building than 65% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (38%) and hurricanes (38%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Long Neck flood?
Flood insurance has paid 21 claims in Long Neck since 1982, $119K in all, or 9.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 72% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (6).
Is Long Neck 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 Long Neck?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Long Neck’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 Long Neck?
By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 6 paid, $37K.
Is Long Neck at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (38%), and Long Neck’s rate for it is lower than 90% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Long Neck.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Long Neck’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.