Delaware natural disasters & FEMA declarations
DE · 50th most declarations of 51 states/DC
Delaware has had 26 federally declared disasters since 1962, the 50th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Hurricane (10 declarations, about 38% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Severe Winter Storm" (Winter Storm), on May 29, 2026.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Delaware, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | 10 | 38% |
| Snowstorm | 5 | 19% |
| Severe Storm | 4 | 15% |
| Biological | 2 | 8% |
| Flood | 2 | 8% |
| Winter Storm | 1 | 4% |
| Coastal Storm | 1 | 4% |
| Drought | 1 | 4% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Major Disaster (DR) | 20 |
| Emergency (EM) | 6 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Delaware's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 2 |
| 1990s | 7 |
| 2000s | 6 |
| 2010s | 6 |
| 2020s | 5 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2026 | Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | DR-4916-DE |
| Oct 24, 2021 | Remnants Of Hurricane Ida | Hurricane | DR-4627-DE |
| Oct 2, 2020 | Tropical Storm Isaias | Hurricane | DR-4566-DE |
| Apr 5, 2020 | Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | DR-4526-DE |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Covid-19 | Biological | EM-3449-DE |
| Mar 16, 2016 | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | DR-4265-DE |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Delaware
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to Delaware in the USGS catalog used here. That does not mean the state has zero seismic risk — smaller earthquakes occur in most states. See our earthquake risk by region guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has Delaware had?
Delaware has had 26 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1962, the 50th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Delaware?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Delaware is "Hurricane", with 10 declarations — about 38% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Delaware?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Delaware in this snapshot was "Severe Winter Storm" (Winter Storm), declared May 29, 2026.
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18