Delaware County Courthouse · Photo: Christopher L. Riley · CC BY-SA 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Delaware than in 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Delaware gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #708 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%). Flood insurance has paid 13 claims here since 1987.
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 Delaware’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Delaware 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
Tornadoes
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 Delaware’s grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Delaware, and Delaware’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 9% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
B #708 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Delaware’s residents live in 12 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Ohio town has lower expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Delaware has more expected damage per building than 71% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.9M a year in losses across Delaware: $10.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Delaware flood? Sometimes: 13 flood claims since 1987
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Delaware, from FEMA’s records: 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Delaware isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Delaware County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Delaware
Disasters that paid out in Delaware itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Delaware), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Tornadoes99 households applied for aid$22K aid approved
- 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated with Tropical Depression Ike$69K to the City of Delaware for repairs
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$49K to the City of Delaware for repairs
- 2004Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides12 households applied for aid$13K aid approved
- 2004Snow$38K to the City of Delaware for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding22 households applied for aid$17K aid approved$7K to the City of Delaware for repairs
Show all 7
- 2003Severe Winter Storm and Record/near Record Snow$20K to the City of Delaware for repairs
Delaware County has had 12 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Delaware after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Delaware archive →Delaware and its neighbors
Delaware is 4th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Township | A−less damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 26 |
| Berlin Township | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Concord Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Delaware | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Troy Township | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Brown Township | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Scioto Township | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Delaware Township | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Delaware 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 Delaware
Is Delaware at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Delaware has lower expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #708 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and tornadoes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Delaware flood?
Flood insurance has paid 13 claims in Delaware since 1987, $212K in all, or 0.7 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 84% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Delaware 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 Delaware County, 16% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Delaware?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Delaware’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 Delaware?
By FEMA money that reached Delaware, Severe Wind Storm Associated with Tropical Depression Ike (2008): $69K to the City of Delaware for repairs.
Is Delaware at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Delaware’s rate for it is higher than 56% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Delaware.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Delaware’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.