Natural hazards · Delaware

Delaware, NJ natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Delaware comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 55 claims here since 1979. 10 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Delaware?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Delaware to be higher than in 65% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding78%Strong wind7%Everything else15%

By hazard

What Delaware faces

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

Inland flooding

78% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 82% of U.S. places

Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Strong wind

7% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 97% of U.S. places

Recorded about 7 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Delaware flood?

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

55paid claims since 1979

$2.4Mpaid to owners

10homes flooded more than once

19792026

Biggest named events

Hurricane Ida: 17 claims, $1.3M
Hurricane Irene: 8 claims, $177K
Torrential rain: 2 claims, $109K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (3) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. 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: Hunterdon County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

2flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Delaware

10 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into DelawareDeclared for Hunterdon County only

2021

Remnants of Hurricane Ida

$1.3M to the Township of Delaware for repairs

2016

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$29K to the Township of Delaware for repairs

2012

Hurricane Sandy

$134K to the Township of Delaware for repairs

2011

Severe Storm

$9K to the Township of Delaware for repairs

2011

Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee

$322K to the Township of Delaware for repairs

2011

Hurricane Irene

$78K to the Township of Delaware for repairs

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

$78K to the Township of Delaware for repairs

2006

Severe Storms and Flooding

$15K to the Township of Delaware for repairs

2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

$4K to the Township of Delaware for repairs

1999

Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations

$118K to the Township of Delaware for repairs

Hunterdon County has had 19 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and hurricanes.

Around Delaware

Delaware and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Lambertvillemostly inland floodingVery high

Kingwoodmostly inland floodingHigh

Delawaremostly inland floodingHigh

Stocktonmostly inland floodingHigh

Soleburymostly inland floodingModerate

East Amwellmostly inland floodingModerate

West Amwellmostly inland floodingModerate

Franklinmostly inland floodingLow

Raritanmostly inland floodingLow

Plumsteadmostly 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. Delaware covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Delaware’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Township of Delaware. 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 Delaware total about $3.7M 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.