Sussex County, DE
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Sussex County has experienced 20 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.
Sussex County's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, coastal flooding, and hurricane, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. NOAA records 124 storm events in the county over the past decade.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Sussex County has been designated in 20 declarations since 1965, covering 8 disaster types including hurricane (6), snowstorm (5), severe storm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2016 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
| 2010 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms |
| 2006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 20 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 | 84.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 92.8 | 47 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Very High | 97.6 | 35 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 81.5 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 89.4 | 3 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | 63.4 | 9 | 1 | — |
| Hurricane | Relatively High | 97.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 60.4 | 17 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | 85.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 96.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 82.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 98.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 82.9 | 14 | 0 | $1K |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 86.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 50.6 | 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
Sussex County ranks in the 52nd percentile (Moderate) 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 | 52nd | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 45th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 69th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 62nd | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 39th | Low |
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 | 40th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 41st | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 42.0% | — |
NOAA tracked 124 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 66 in 2016–20 vs 58 in 2021–25 (-12% — 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 Sussex County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Sussex County, Delaware are cold wave, coastal flooding, and hurricane. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Sussex County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Sussex County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (6 declarations).
Has Sussex County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Sussex County include Severe Winter Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1965.
How does Sussex County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Cape May County, NJ has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Caroline County, MD has the lowest (Relatively Low). Sussex County is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Sussex County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Sussex 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. Sussex County's composite score of 94 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 94% of US counties.