Photo: Mitchazenia · CC BY-SA 3.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Callicoon than in 71% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Callicoon gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #662 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 50 claims here since 1980.
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 Callicoon 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 Callicoon’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Callicoon, and Callicoon’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
C #662 of 758 in New York; higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Callicoon’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Callicoon has more expected damage per building than 87% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.1M a year in losses across Callicoon: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Callicoon flood? Sometimes: 50 flood claims since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Callicoon, from FEMA’s records: 25.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Lee1 claim · $9K
- Hurricane Gloria1 claim · $5K
- Hurricane Irene1 claim · $7K
Callicoon isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Sullivan County.8 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Callicoon
Disasters that paid out in Callicoon itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Callicoon), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$31K to the Town of Callicoon for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy4 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$39K to the Town of Callicoon for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Hurricane Irene3 households applied for aid$82K to the Town of Callicoon for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $7K
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding18 households applied for aid$32K aid approved$1.1M to the Town of Callicoon for repairs10 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$201K to the Town of Callicoon for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan23 households applied for aid$9K aid approved$312K to the Town of Callicoon for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
Show all 8
- 2003Snow$8K to the Town of Callicoon for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2002Snowstorms$35K to the Town of Callicoon for repairs
Sullivan County has had 26 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Callicoon after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Callicoon archive →Callicoon and its neighbors
Callicoon is 4th of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Bethel | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Delaware | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 42 |
| Callicoon | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 50 |
| Fremont | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 18 |
| Rockland | Dmore damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 499 |
| Jeffersonville | — | 425 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 Callicoon 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 Callicoon
Is Callicoon at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Callicoon has higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #662 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Callicoon flood?
Flood insurance has paid 50 claims in Callicoon since 1980, $941K in all, or 25.4 per 1,000 homes, more than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 6 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Lee (1).
Is Callicoon 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 Sullivan County, 13% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Callicoon?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Callicoon’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Callicoon?
By FEMA money that reached Callicoon, Severe Storms and Flooding (2006): 18 households applied for aid, $32K approved, and $1.1M to the Town of Callicoon for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Lee: 1 paid, $9K.
Is Callicoon at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Callicoon’s rate for it is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Callicoon.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Callicoon’s 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.