riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Kent County Disaster Risk

Kent County, Delaware

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Moderate

National Percentile

85th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#3

of 3 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

83th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Moderate

Higher than 83% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 65% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 69% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 81% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Moderate

Higher than 91% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Kent County

Risk Verdict

Kent County has a relatively moderate overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 85th percentile nationally. While not in the highest tier, this county faces meaningful hazard exposure. Residents are encouraged to understand their specific risks and maintain emergency supplies.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is the dominant hazard for Kent County, scoring in the 91th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 83th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (81th), tornado (69th), wildfire (65th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Kent County residents should know your evacuation route, stockpile supplies for at least 72 hours, and review your homeowners and flood insurance policies annually. Secondary risks such as flood also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Kent County is notably safer than the average county in Delaware. Its composite risk score is 6.8 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Kent County, DE?
Kent County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, placing it in the 85th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Kent County?
Kent County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (91th percentile), flooding (83th percentile), earthquake (81th percentile), tornado (69th percentile), wildfire (65th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 91th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Kent County risk compare to the Delaware average?
Kent County's composite risk percentile is 85th, compared to the Delaware state average of 91th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Moderate. This means Kent County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Delaware.
Is Kent County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Kent County's hurricane risk is at the 91th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Kent County is at the 83th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Kent County a safe place to live?
Kent County's composite risk score of 85th percentile is below the Delaware state average of 91th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is hurricane at the 91th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Sussex County

Delaware

+9.6

Relatively Moderate

94th percentile

New Castle County

Delaware

+10.8

Relatively High

95th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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