Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Wilmington than in 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wilmington gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #34 of 37 in Delaware. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%). Flood insurance has paid 202 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 Wilmington’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Wilmington 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
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 Wilmington’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Wilmington, and Wilmington’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 7%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
C #34 of 37 in Delaware; higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Wilmington’s residents live in 24 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, Wilmington has more expected damage per building than 92% of Delaware towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $33.0M a year in losses across Wilmington: $27.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Wilmington flood? Yes: 202 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Wilmington, from FEMA’s records: 5.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida63 claims · $3.0M
- Hurricane Floyd13 claims · $656K
- Hurricane Irene12 claims · $88K
Wilmington 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 Wilmington
Disasters that paid out in Wilmington itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Wilmington), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida$460K to the City of Wilmington for repairs63 flood claims paid for it, $3.0M
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$111K to the City of Wilmington for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Hurricane Irene$108K to the City of Wilmington for repairs12 flood claims paid for it, $88K
- 2010Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms$586K to the City of Wilmington for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Hurricane Isabel300 households applied for aid$1.0M aid approved$201K to the City of Wilmington for repairs5 flood claims paid for it, $89K
- 2003Snow$468K to the City of Wilmington for repairs
Show all 7
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$124K to the City of Wilmington for repairs13 flood claims paid for it, $656K
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 Wilmington after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Wilmington archive →Wilmington and its neighbors
Wilmington is 2nd of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edgemoor | B+less damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Wilmington | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 202 |
| Elsmere | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Penns Grove | C−more damage than 81% | coastal flooding | 198 |
| Carneys Point Township | C−more damage than 83% | coastal flooding | 56 |
| Pennsville Township | Dmore damage than 92% | coastal flooding | 167 |
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 Wilmington 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.
- 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 Wilmington
Is Wilmington at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Wilmington has higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #34 of 37 in Delaware. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and coastal flooding (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Wilmington flood?
Flood insurance has paid 202 claims in Wilmington since 1978, $6.4M in all, or 5.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 63% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 18 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (63).
Is Wilmington 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 Wilmington?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Wilmington’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 Wilmington?
By FEMA money that reached Wilmington, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 300 households applied for aid, $1.0M approved, and $201K to the City of Wilmington for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 63 paid, $3.0M.
Is Wilmington at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Wilmington’s rate for it is higher than 84% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Wilmington.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Wilmington’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.