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Natural Disasters in Delaware: History & Risk Data

3,419 recorded disaster events across 64 ZIP codes.

State Statistics

3,419
Total Events
$732.2M
Total Damage
475
Total Deaths
64
ZIP Codes

Event Timeline

01132263394511954: 3 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage19541955: 7 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage1957: 16 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage1960: 4 events, 0 deaths, $1.0M damage1961: 10 events, 0 deaths, $0.3M damage1962: 19 events, 0 deaths, $0.5M damage19621964: 5 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage1967: 27 events, 0 deaths, $2.3M damage1968: 15 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage1969: 11 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage1970: 12 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage19701973: 5 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage1974: 11 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage1975: 20 events, 0 deaths, $1.4M damage1976: 5 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage1977: 20 events, 0 deaths, $2.1M damage19771979: 22 events, 5 deaths, $16.3M damage1980: 17 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage1981: 12 events, 0 deaths, $10.0M damage1983: 19 events, 12 deaths, $1.5M damage1984: 10 events, 0 deaths, $1.1M damage19841985: 2 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage1987: 16 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage1988: 28 events, 0 deaths, $22.3M damage1989: 52 events, 0 deaths, $26.8M damage1990: 20 events, 0 deaths, $4.0M damage19901991: 20 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage1992: 19 events, 0 deaths, $2.7M damage1993: 7 events, 0 deaths, $0.3M damage1994: 4 events, 0 deaths, $1.6M damage1996: 68 events, 8 deaths, $40.6M damage19961997: 60 events, 8 deaths, $12.6M damage1998: 50 events, 17 deaths, $23.1M damage1999: 103 events, 102 deaths, $0.0M damage2000: 41 events, 2 deaths, $0.0M damage2001: 5 events, 1 deaths, $0.0M damage20012002: 36 events, 3 deaths, $0.5M damage2003: 46 events, 1 deaths, $52.3M damage2004: 20 events, 0 deaths, $12.0M damage2005: 5 events, 0 deaths, $12.5M damage2006: 40 events, 32 deaths, $0.3M damage20062007: 167 events, 101 deaths, $0.0M damage2008: 143 events, 8 deaths, $39.8M damage2009: 164 events, 8 deaths, $6.3M damage2010: 230 events, 33 deaths, $153.5M damage2011: 271 events, 29 deaths, $69.5M damage20112012: 79 events, 21 deaths, $55.0M damage2013: 140 events, 17 deaths, $1.8M damage2014: 451 events, 32 deaths, $34.1M damage2015: 249 events, 16 deaths, $2.0M damage2016: 67 events, 16 deaths, $0.0M damage20162017: 42 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage2018: 12 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage2019: 120 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage2020: 53 events, 0 deaths, $0.2M damage2021: 47 events, 0 deaths, $119.9M damage20212022: 54 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage2023: 100 events, 3 deaths, $0.0M damage2024: 21 events, 0 deaths, $0.3M damage2025: 97 events, 0 deaths, $1.8M damage
Events (no fatalities) Events with fatalities

Hazard Breakdown

❄️blizzard
1.4K events·158 deaths·$212.7M
Low:241
Moderate:287
High:115
Severe:796
⛈️hail
709 events·0 deaths·$38.1M
Low:685
Moderate:24
🌪️tornado
365 events·20 deaths·$108.5M
Low:217
Moderate:135
High:13
🌊flood
331 events·12 deaths·$347.4M
Low:49
Moderate:45
High:105
Severe:132
🌡️heat
321 events·211 deaths·$0
Low:54
High:147
Severe:120
💨wind
184 events·0 deaths·$13.4M
Low:155
Moderate:8
High:21
🥶cold
59 events·74 deaths·$12M
Low:17
Severe:42
🌍earthquake
11 events·0 deaths·$0
Low:8
Moderate:3

Most Affected ZIP Codes in Delaware

📊 Delaware Disaster Profile

Federal and state records show 3,419 natural disaster events for Delaware, spanning 64 ZIP codes. The cumulative documented property damage stands at $732.2M. A total of 475 fatalities have been attributed to natural disasters in the state.

⚠️ Hazard Distribution

Blizzards lead Delaware's disaster profile with 1,439 events (42%), causing $212.7M in property damage. Other significant hazards include hailstorms (709 events, $38.1M in damages), tornadoes (365 events, $108.5M in damages), and floods (331 events, $347.4M in damages). Delaware has no recorded hurricanes and wildfires in the dataset.

📍 Geographic Impact

The most disaster-affected areas in Delaware include ZIP 19720 (114 events, $21.7M in damages), ZIP 19711 (110 events, $21.4M in damages), and ZIP 19808 (105 events, $15.4M in damages).

📈 Trends Over Time

Disaster frequency in Delaware has increased markedly over time. The average annual event count in recent decades is roughly 581% higher than in earlier periods of the record. The year 2014 stands out as particularly active, with 451 events recorded — likely driven by a major weather system or disaster season.

Frequently Asked Questions — Delaware

What natural disasters occur in Delaware?

Delaware has experienced 3,419 documented natural disaster events. The hazard types recorded include blizzards (1,439), hailstorms (709), tornadoes (365), floods (331), extreme heat events (321), severe wind events (184), extreme cold events (59), and earthquakes (11). The most common hazard is blizzards, accounting for 42% of all events.

What are the most disaster-prone areas in Delaware?

Based on historical records, the most disaster-affected ZIP codes in Delaware are ZIP 19720 (114 events), ZIP 19711 (110 events), ZIP 19808 (105 events), ZIP 19702 (104 events), and ZIP 19805 (104 events). These areas have the highest concentration of recorded natural disaster events in the state.

How much damage have natural disasters caused in Delaware?

Natural disasters have caused a documented $732.2M in property damage across Delaware. This total is based on records from FEMA, NOAA, and USGS, covering events from the 1950s onward. The actual figure is likely higher, as not all events have complete damage records.

About This Data

State-level data aggregated from FEMA (disaster declarations, NFIP flood claims), NOAA Storm Events Database, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, and NIFC wildfire records. Historical coverage varies by source, with most records beginning in the 1950s–1970s. Full methodology →

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