Photo: Dough4872 · CC BY-SA 4.0Rehoboth Beach’s building-damage rate from coastal flooding is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rehoboth Beach gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (40%), then coastal flooding (30%). Flood insurance has paid 75 claims here since 1979.
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 Rehoboth Beach’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Rehoboth Beach 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
Hurricanes
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 Rehoboth Beach’s grade
River and rain flooding is 40% of the building damage FEMA expects in Rehoboth Beach, and Rehoboth Beach’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 30%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Rehoboth Beach’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.4M a year in losses across Rehoboth Beach: $2.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Rehoboth Beach flood? Sometimes: 75 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Rehoboth Beach, from FEMA’s records: 23.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy4 claims · $35K
- Hurricane Gloria3 claims · $51K
- The December Storm - nor’easter2 claims · $4K
Rehoboth Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: Sussex County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Rehoboth Beach
Disasters that paid out in Rehoboth Beach itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Rehoboth Beach), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2026Severe Winter Storm$70K to the City of Rehoboth Beach for repairs
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$941K to the City of Rehoboth Beach for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$21K to the City of Rehoboth Beach for repairs4 flood claims paid for it, $35K
- 2011Hurricane Irene$21K to the City of Rehoboth Beach for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms$33K to the City of Rehoboth Beach for repairs
- 2003Hurricane Isabel2 households applied for aid$14K to the City of Rehoboth Beach for repairs
Show all 7
- 2003Snow$13K to the City of Rehoboth Beach for repairs
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 Rehoboth Beach after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Rehoboth Beach archive →Rehoboth Beach and its neighbors
Rehoboth Beach has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rehoboth Beach | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 75 |
| Henlopen Acres | — | 176 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Rehoboth Beach 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Rehoboth Beach residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Rehoboth Beach
Is Rehoboth Beach at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Rehoboth Beach has higher expected damage per building than 57% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (40%) and coastal flooding (30%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Rehoboth Beach flood?
Flood insurance has paid 75 claims in Rehoboth Beach since 1979, $1.1M in all, or 23.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 86% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (4).
Is Rehoboth Beach 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 Rehoboth Beach?
Rehoboth Beach is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% 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 Rehoboth Beach?
By FEMA money that reached Rehoboth Beach, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (2016): $941K to the City of Rehoboth Beach for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 4 paid, $35K.
Is Rehoboth Beach at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (40%), and Rehoboth Beach’s rate for it is lower than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Rehoboth Beach.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Rehoboth Beach’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.