If Delaware experiences a severe weather event, natural disaster, or man-made disaster, you want to make sure that you are prepared and have a plan in place.
In this guide you will find resources about notifications, weather advisories, preparedness, and understanding driving restrictions. Make sure that you and your family are prepared!
Contact Information
DEMA
165 Brick Store Landing Road
Smyrna, DE 19977
(302) 659-3362
Delaware State Police
1441 N. DuPont Highway
P.O. Box 430
Dover, Delaware 19903
(302) 739-5901
Stay apprised in real time by email of hazardous weather conditions in Delaware when a news release posts on news.delaware.gov concerning events like snow, ice, blizzards or hurricanes by subscribing to weather alerts.
The Delaware Emergency Notification System (DENS) is the primary system used to warm Delaware citizens about emergency situations.
DENS allows 911 centers to send messages to specific locations or larger areas that might be affected by the emergency event. Since many homes and businesses do not use landline phones today, you can register your mobile phone in the DENS system.
Plan ahead for any emergency by giving 9-1-1 the information they need to help you fast by registering at Smart911.
DERNS alerts the public of the release or discharge of contaminants or pollutants locally or statewide when thresholds are exceeded.
In response to the 2001 Delaware law codified in Title 7, Delaware Code, Section 6028(a), the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) developed the notification system to promptly alert Delawareans to releases or discharges of contaminants or pollutants that meet or exceed certain thresholds in their neighborhoods or throughout the state.
Check NOAA for current weather advisories and alerts.
The DEOS snow monitoring network is a real-time resource for snow conditions across Delaware.
Read the DEMA Hurricane Preparedness brochure
Learn more about hurricane categories
Tornadoes are incredibly violent, so you must be prepared to act quickly if a tornado occurs.
In the event of a flood, move valuable items and important documentation to higher floors or locations in your home.
You can prepare for a flood by getting insurance that covers flooding. Read more about flood insurance here.
Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to plan in advance how you will contact one another, how you will get back together, and what you will do in different situations.
FEMA provides numerous types of plans that you can download, fill out, and print for your family. Emergency plan templates include: Communication plans for parents, kids, emergency plan for pets, commuters, and evacuation planning.
A medical card can help to save you life. It is important in the situation in which you are unable to give medical professionals vital information about your health.
When reporting a terrorism tip, please include the following information if possible:
Please Note
The Anti-Terrorist tip line is not meant to replace 911. Call 911 for immediate threats or active issues.
When there are severe weather events or other unsafe conditions, the Governor may issue a Driving Warning, Restriction, or Ban. Press releases announcing these conditions are posted on Delaware News' weather notifications area. You can also sign up to receive weather-related press releases.
Drivers are discouraged from operating a motor vehicle on the state’s roadways, unless there is a significant safety, health, or business reason to do so. During a level 1 Driving Warning, all citizens are asked to drive with extreme caution.
Travel on the roads is restricted to emergency workers, public utilities, healthcare providers including hospital staff, public and private operators of snow removal equipment, private sector food and fuel deliveries. Industries, companies or organizations that have been provided a waiver, are also permitted to be on the road, including businesses with pressing continuity and operational issues.
Complete ban on driving except for first responders, utility personnel, and public or private snow removal. Businesses and organizations should adjust work schedules so that employees do not need to be on the roads during a Level 3 Driving Ban.
Level 3 Bans are different from Level 2 Restrictions. Level 2 allows people with waivers and essential personnel to remain on the road, whereas a Level 3 Bans are much stricter, only allowing emergency personnel.
Apply for a State of Emergency Driving Restriction Exemption Application.
Apply for a State of Emergency Level 2 Driving Restriction Waiver.
Please Note
Waivers are not valid during a State of Emergency Level 3 driving ban.
Essential personnel include those who are necessary state personnel or those who provide healthcare services, food deliveries, and fuel deliveries during a state of emergency in both public and private industries.
Includes first responders, some state employees (i.e. police officers), people the governor has approved through executive order (i.e. utility workers), and operator of snowplows or debris removal equipment that have been hired by the state or private interests.
A natural hazard is a weather-related incident such and ice and snow storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, nor’easters, and flooding that pose the risk to cause significant damage.
Delaware’s borders are within 50 miles of four nuclear power plant sites:
Radioactive material is transferred through Delaware by air, water, and roadway. Since 1995, six shipments of radioactive material have been transported across Delaware’s waters.
Related Topics: driving, emergencies, emergency, hazard, notification, preparedness, safety, weather