Enter any address in Delaware County, New York to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events dominates the flood character in Delaware County. Between 1993 and 2023, NOAA data recorded 84 flash flood events and 53 general flood events, resulting in 13 and 2 fatalities, respectively. Recent events include significant rainfall in June and July of 2025, where slow-moving thunderstorms produced torrential downpours, leading to widespread flash flooding, flooded roads, and washouts of small bridges and culverts.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the highest number of claims, with an average payout of $36,878 and an average water depth of 10.5 feet. Properties in Zone X also show a significant number of claims, averaging $14,933 in payouts and 8.7 feet of water depth. Homeowners in Zone A, Zone X, and those in areas with less defined flood risk should pay close attention to potential flood hazards.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
68 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Delaware County, New York has recorded 137 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 84 flash floods and 53 river or area floods. The county has received 39 federal disaster declarations, 7 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1965–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby | Tropical Storm | Aug 8, 2024 |
| Hurricane Henri | Hurricane | Aug 21, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Aug 13, 2018 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | Mar 14, 2017 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 13, 2014 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Jun 26, 2013 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 27, 2012 |
| Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee | Severe Storm | Sep 7, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 22, 2025 | 2.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 13, 2025 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 7, 2025 | 2.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 4, 2025 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 9, 2024 | 125.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 9, 2024 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 9, 2024 | 40.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 9, 2024 | 15.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 9, 2024 | 20.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 9, 2024 | 2.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 22, 2025
A mesoscale convective system (MCS) dropped southward across Central NY from eastern Ontario, moving into an environment with plenty of moisture and instability during the early morning hours. Torrential rainfall accompanied these storms and produced widespread flash flooding and small river flooding. Estimates of 3 to 5 inches, with locally higher amounts, fell mostly within a 6-hour period.
Flash Flood — Jul 13, 2025
A warm and unstable environment ahead of an approaching cold front supported the development of scattered thunderstorms. Weak steering winds contributed to slow moving storms repeating over the same areas which contributed to areas of heavy rainfall and flash flooding. Several locations around central New York reported flooded roads along with washouts of culverts and small bridges.
Flash Flood — Jun 7, 2025
Low pressure moving along a stationary front positioned over South Central New York triggered slow-moving, heavy rain-producing thunderstorms during the early morning hours. Pockets of 2 to 3 inches of rain fell over just a few hours causing urban and small stream flash flooding along with road and bridge washouts.
Flash Flood — May 4, 2025
An upper level low pressure system interacting with a stationary frontal system draped across southeast New York triggered copious amounts of showers and thunderstorms. An enhanced area of prolonged heavy rainfall over Delaware county produced a period of excessive runoff and some flash flooding of local roads.
Flash Flood — Aug 9, 2024
A deep plume of tropical moisture had spread over Central New York ahead of the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby. Prolonged torrential rains blanketed the region during the night and early morning hours before becoming enhanced by the approaching tropical remnants. This enhancement of rainfall led to widespread flash flooding in many parts of the region where roads and bridges were destroyed an...
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 Delaware County, New York:
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 Delaware County, New York 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.