Dover, Delaware Flood Zones
Dover faces flooding from the St. Jones River and its tributaries. Flat terrain in the coastal plain contributes to poor drainage and prolonged inundation after heavy rainfall events.
FEMA Flood Risk Profile: Kent County
Based on FEMA's National Risk Index, which evaluates flood risk at the county level using historical loss data, exposure, and vulnerability.
Inland Flood Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $23.5M
Coastal Flood Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $1.1M
Hurricane Risk
Relatively ModerateEst. annual loss: $10.0M
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county-level assessment. Individual property risk may vary.
Federal Flood Disaster History: Kent County
Kent County has been included in 8 federal flood-related disaster declarations.
...and 2 earlier declarations since 1992.
These declarations affected communities across Kent County, including Dover.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API. Data sourced February 2026.
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims: Kent County
Properties in Kent County have filed 375 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $3.5M in payouts since 1978. The average claim payout is $9K.
Highest-Claim Years
2008
64 claims - $1.3M
1980
38 claims - $91K
1984
37 claims - $142K
Claims by Flood Zone
Zone A
172
Zone AE
108
Zone X
70
Zone VE
14
Zone V
8
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Claims API. Data sourced February 2026.
Common Flood Zones in Dover
Properties in Dover, DE are commonly designated in these FEMA flood zones:
What Your Flood Zone Means in Dover
Dover faces flood risk primarily from river and stream overflow during heavy rainfall, snowmelt, or upstream dam releases. When rivers exceed their banks, floodwaters spread across low-lying areas mapped in AE and A zones. The most common FEMA flood zone designations in Dover are Zone AE, Zone A, Zone X. FEMA's National Risk Index estimates the county's annual expected loss from inland flooding at over $23.5M.
Riverine flood risk in Dover is driven by the proximity and elevation of properties relative to nearby waterways. Properties closer to rivers with lower ground elevations typically face higher flood insurance premiums under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0. If your property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance.
River flood maps can change when FEMA conducts new Flood Insurance Studies or when development alters drainage patterns. Letters of Map Amendment (LOMA) can remove individual properties if the natural ground elevation was always above the Base Flood Elevation and the property was inadvertently mapped in the SFHA. Use our free lookup tool to check the current flood zone for any Dover address.
Check Your Dover Address
Enter any Dover, DE address to instantly see its FEMA flood zone, risk level, and whether flood insurance is required.
Free Flood Zone LookupDover, DE Flood Zone FAQ
What flood zones are in Dover, DE?
The most common FEMA flood zones in Dover are Zone AE, Zone A, Zone X. Properties in these high-risk zones (SFHA) may require flood insurance with a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage.
Is flood insurance required in Dover?
If your Dover property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and you have a federally regulated or government-backed mortgage, federal law generally requires your lender to ensure you carry flood insurance. Properties in Zone X are not federally required to carry flood insurance, though coverage is still recommended since about 25% of all NFIP flood claims come from Zone X properties.
How do I check my flood zone in Dover?
Enter your Dover address in the search tool above for an instant flood zone determination. Results include your FEMA flood zone, SFHA status, base flood elevation (if available), and FIRM panel information, pulled directly from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer.
What type of flooding affects Dover?
Dover is primarily affected by river and stream overflow during heavy rainfall. The most common FEMA flood zone designations are Zone AE, Zone A, Zone X. Use the free lookup tool above to check the specific flood zone for any Dover address.
Has Dover experienced major flooding events?
Kent County, where Dover is located, has been part of 8 federal disaster declarations for flooding, hurricanes, or severe storms. The most recent was Tropical Storm Isaias in 2020. Federal disaster declarations are issued when flooding overwhelms local resources and triggers FEMA assistance programs.
How many flood insurance claims have been filed in Dover?
Kent County has recorded 375 NFIP flood insurance claims totaling $3.5M in payouts since 1978. The year with the most claims was 2008, with 64 claims and $1.3M in payouts. These figures cover all NFIP claims in the county, including Dover.
Sources
This page summarizes information from FEMA and other official resources in plain language. For full technical details, see the links below.
- FEMA National Flood Hazard LayerDirect Source
The NFHL is the source of all flood zone data shown on this page.
- FEMA Map Service Center — Search by AddressDirect Source
Look up any address to view FIRM panels, FIS reports, and LOMCs.
- NFHL Data and Map StatusTopic Page
View NFHL coverage and data freshness by state and community.
- FEMA National Risk Index — Data ResourcesDirect Source
County-level risk scores for inland flooding, coastal flooding, and hurricane used in the Flood Risk Profile.
- OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries API v2Direct Source
Federal disaster declarations filtered for flood-related incident types (Flood, Hurricane, Severe Storm, Coastal Storm).
- OpenFEMA FIMA NFIP Claims API v2Direct Source
Historical NFIP flood insurance claims since 1978, aggregated by county and state. Includes claim counts, payouts, and flood zone breakdowns.
Sources last verified: February 2026