Delaware is a coastal state in the mid-Atlantic, which makes it prone to many natural disasters. Additionally, the state is far enough north that it not only experiences extreme weather in the spring and summer but in the winter as well.
Hurricanes tend to pose a significant threat at the move up the east coast. Even though hurricanes tend not to make landfall in Delaware, the powerful storms could still cause widespread destruction in the area. That’s because hurricanes bring storm surges with them, which can wash over beaches and river banks.
Although a hurricane has not made landfall in Delaware recently, scientists believe that it’s only a matter of time before this is the case. If a storm were to do so, widespread destruction would be imminent.
Delaware is the lowest-lying state in the nation. Except for the Piedmont region, the entire state exists within a coastal watershed.
As developers begin to build more in Delaware, they could be exposing themselves to future natural disaster risks. For instance, the Delaware Geological Survey storm surge mapping tool shows that
flooding would completely overtake a new redevelopment project in the Fort DuPont area of New Castle County.
Furthermore, a storm surge of a mere three feet would swallow up the 70 high-end luxury homes that developers recently built in the Little Assawoman Bay area.
It appears that more and more developers are building in low-lying areas of the state without much regard to hurricanes or coastal flooding. Part of the reason for this is that local governments in these
areas allow for higher densities of development than in other areas. Researchers already predict that people who live in these areas are on a “collision course with disaster,” especially as sea levels continue
to rise.
The Delaware FAIR Plan began operating in 1968 to help insure those who cannot otherwise find coverage on the voluntary insurance market. However, no state funds go into this plan. Instead, it is organized by an association of the property insurance companies that exist in Delaware.
If you live in a home that insurers have deemed high-risk, you may feel that the Delaware FAIR Plan is your only option for coverage. However, it would be in your best interest to look into alternatives on the private market. Doing so can help keep rates more affordable while providing you with the coverage you need to protect yourself from Delaware’s volatile weather patterns.