Kent County, DE
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Kent County has experienced 17 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Kent County's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, winter weather, and hurricane, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 47% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (82nd percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Kent County has been designated in 17 declarations since 1965, covering 7 disaster types including hurricane (7), snowstorm (4), biological (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Isaias |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2010 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Showing the 10 most recent of 17 total declarations since 1965.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | 64.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 82.9 | 18 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 69.6 | 11 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 80.7 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 87.6 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 68.6 | 5 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | 91.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 45.9 | 12 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 60 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 92.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 67.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 93.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 73.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 84.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 30.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Insufficient Data | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Kent County ranks in the 82nd percentile (High) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 82nd | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 63rd | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 87th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 80th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 79th | High |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 35th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 38th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 50.9% | — |
NOAA tracked 49 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 32 in 2016–20 vs 17 in 2021–25 (-47% — frequency decreasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Kent County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Kent County, Delaware are cold wave, winter weather, and hurricane. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Kent County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Kent County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (7 declarations).
Has Kent County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Kent County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1965.
How does Kent County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, New Castle County, DE has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Queen Anne's County, MD has the lowest (Very Low). Kent County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Kent County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Kent County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Kent County's composite score of 85 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 85% of US counties.