Photo: Ncpanthers24 at English Wikipedia · Public domainLess hazard damage per building is expected in Middletown than in 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Middletown gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #24 of 37 in Delaware. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2013.
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 Middletown’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Middletown 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 Middletown’s grade
River and rain flooding is 85% of the building damage FEMA expects in Middletown, and Middletown’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 2%, at a rate in the top 5% of U.S. census tracts.
B #24 of 37 in Delaware; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Middletown’s residents live in 6 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, Middletown has more expected damage per building than 64% of Delaware towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.6M a year in losses across Middletown: $6.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Middletown flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2013
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Middletown, from FEMA’s records: 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Middletown 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 Middletown
Disasters that paid out in Middletown itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Middletown), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$44K to the Town of Middletown for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$12K to the Town of Middletown for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms$89K to the Town of Middletown for repairs
- 2003Hurricane Isabel15 households applied for aid$29K aid approved$10K to the Town of Middletown for repairs
- 2003Tropical Storm Henri1 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
- 2003Snow$51K to the Town of Middletown for repairs
Show all 7
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$6K to the Town of Middletown for repairs
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 Middletown after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Middletown archive →Get ready for what Middletown 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 Middletown
Is Middletown at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Middletown has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #24 of 37 in Delaware. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (85%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Middletown flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Middletown since 2013, $4K in all, or 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Middletown 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 Middletown?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Middletown’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 Middletown?
By FEMA money that reached Middletown, Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms (2010): $89K to the Town of Middletown for repairs.
Is Middletown at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (85%), and Middletown’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Middletown.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Middletown’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.