Photo: Nyttend · Public domainStorms, floods and disasters in Sugar Grove
Sugar Grove isn’t graded for hazard risk: Sugar Grove has 402 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1980.
What Sugar Grove 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.
Does Sugar Grove flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1980
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sugar Grove, from FEMA’s records.
Sugar Grove isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Fairfield County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Sugar Grove
Disasters that paid out in Sugar Grove itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Sugar Grove), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated with Tropical Depression Ike$1K to the Village of Sugar Grove for repairs
- 2004Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides1 households applied for aid$99K to the Village of Sugar Grove for repairs
Fairfield County has had 9 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.
Old photos of Sugar Grove after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Sugar Grove archive →Get ready for what Sugar Grove 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 Sugar Grove
Does Sugar Grove flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Sugar Grove since 1980, $1K in all.
Is Sugar Grove 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 Fairfield County, 18% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Sugar Grove?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sugar Grove’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 Sugar Grove?
By FEMA money that reached Sugar Grove, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides (2004): 1 households applied for aid, $0 approved, and $99K to the Village of Sugar Grove for repairs.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sugar Grove.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sugar Grove’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.