FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Sun Lakes than in 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sun Lakes gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #53 of 140 in Arizona. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2014.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Sun Lakes faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Sun Lakes’ grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Sun Lakes, and Sun Lakes’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
C #53 of 140 in Arizona; higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Sun Lakes’ residents live in 5 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Arizona town has higher expected damage than 78% of U.S. towns; within the state, Sun Lakes has less expected damage per building than 63% of Arizona towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $13.3M a year in losses across Sun Lakes: $10.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Sun Lakes flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2014
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sun Lakes, from FEMA’s records: 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Sun Lakes isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Maricopa County.The storms Sun Lakes remembers
None of the 12 disasters declared for its 2 counties shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Sun Lakes itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20141 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for its 2 counties
Its 2 counties have had 12 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 11 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in its 2 counties, 2005–2024.
Old photos of Sun Lakes after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Sun Lakes archive →Sun Lakes and its neighbors
Sun Lakes is 2nd of the 2 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chandler | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Sun Lakes | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Goodyear Village | — | 590 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Sun Lakes faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Sun Lakes
Is Sun Lakes at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Sun Lakes has higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #53 of 140 in Arizona. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Sun Lakes flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Sun Lakes since 2014, $7K in all, or 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 99% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Sun Lakes in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Maricopa County, 29% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Sun Lakes?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sun Lakes’ flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Sun Lakes at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Sun Lakes’ rate for it is higher than 86% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sun Lakes.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sun Lakes’ residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.