Enter any address in Sussex County, Delaware to see its FEMA flood zone
Coastal flooding is the dominant flood character in Sussex County, Delaware. Between 2000 and 2020, NOAA recorded 137 coastal flood events, alongside 68 flash flood events and 51 general flood events. Recent examples include moderate tidal flooding observed along the southern Delaware coast on October 29, 2025, due to onshore easterly flow from an area of low pressure. Similarly, on October 12, 2025, a coastal storm offshore brought moderate to locally major high tide levels to the southern half of the state, with tidal flooding persisting over multiple high tide cycles.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows a significant number of claims in Zone A (2,396 claims) and Zone V (804 claims), indicating higher flood risk in these areas. Properties located in coastal areas, particularly those in Zone A and Zone V, should pay the most attention to flood risk. Homeowners in Zone X, while having fewer claims, also experienced payouts, with Zone X_SHADED showing an average water depth of 2.2 feet in claims.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
58 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Sussex County, Delaware has recorded 292 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 68 flash floods and 51 river or area floods. The county has received 19 federal disaster declarations, 2 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1965–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Jan 22, 2016 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 27, 2012 |
| Hurricane Irene | Hurricane | Aug 26, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms | Snowstorm | Feb 5, 2010 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 23, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Hurricane Isabel | Hurricane | Sep 18, 2003 |
| Snow | Snowstorm | Feb 14, 2003 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal Flood | Oct 29, 2025 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jun 29, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Aug 21, 2025 | — |
| Coastal Flood | Oct 12, 2025 | — |
| Flash Flood | Jul 10, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Oct 1, 2025 | — |
| Coastal Flood | Oct 1, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Sep 23, 2024 | — |
| Coastal Flood | Nov 15, 2024 | — |
| Coastal Flood | Jan 13, 2024 | 0.00K |
Coastal Flood — Oct 29, 2025
An area of low pressure moved just to the west of Delaware, with onshore easterly flow pushing water towards the New Jersey coast and back bay communities. This resulted in Moderate Tidal Flooding along the southern Delaware coast.
Flash Flood — Jun 29, 2025
Scattered thunderstorms, out ahead of a cold front, produced heavy rain across Sussex County Delaware on the afternoon of June 29. The heaviest rain fell across the Delaware Beaches and adjacent bays.
Coastal Flood — Aug 21, 2025
Storm surge from Hurricane Erin and an upcoming New Moon resulted in moderate to locally major high tide levels on the night of August 21, 2025 across coastal areas of Delaware.
Coastal Flood — Oct 12, 2025
A powerful coastal storm sat off the Delaware coast, with strong winds pushing water towards the shoreline and into the back bays of Delaware. Moderate to locally major high tide levels were observed over the southern half of the state. Tidal flooding continued over multiple high tide cycles.
Flash Flood — Jul 10, 2025
Although low pressure and a cold front were moving east of the region, they were still close enough to cause heavy rain and flash flooding.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Sussex County, Delaware:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Sussex County, Delaware that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.