Natural hazards · Dover

Dover, DE natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Dover comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 15 claims here since 1980. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Dover?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Dover to be higher than in 25% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and hurricanes.

Inland flooding44%Hurricanes18%Cold waves18%Earthquakes7%Tornadoes5%Everything else9%

By hazard

What Dover faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

44% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 29% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Hurricanes

18% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 84% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 10 years in the area

Cold waves

18% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 50% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Earthquakes

7% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 62% of U.S. places

Tornadoes

5% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 37% of U.S. places

Lower here

Coastal floodingHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

AvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Dover flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Dover, from FEMA’s records.

15paid claims since 1980

$92Kpaid to owners

1homes flooded more than once

19802026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Irene: 2 claims, $8K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Dover isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Kent County.

Disasters that hit Dover

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Dover itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Dover.

Brought FEMA money into DoverDeclared for Kent County only

2026

Severe Winter Storm

$65K to the City of Dover for repairs

2020

Tropical Storm Isaias

$673K to the City of Dover for repairs

2012

Hurricane Sandy

$255K to the City of Dover for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

$157K to the City of Dover for repairs

2010

Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms

$187K to the City of Dover for repairs

2003

Hurricane Isabel

15 households applied for aid $7K aid approved $105K to the City of Dover for repairs

2003

Snow

$129K to the City of Dover for repairs

Kent County has had 13 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often winter storms and hurricanes.

Around Dover

Dover and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Dover Base Housingmostly inland floodingModerate

Rodney Villagemostly inland floodingModerate

Kent Acresmostly inland floodingLow

Dovermostly inland floodingLow

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Dover covers 7 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Dover’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Dover. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Dover total about $7.8M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); 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. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.