–Not graded

Natural hazards in Sullivan · FEMA

Storms, floods and disasters in Sullivan

Sullivan isn’t graded for hazard risk: Sullivan has 663 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1979.

Flood claims

paid since 1979 · $215

Disasters paid out here

of 11 declared for Jefferson County

By hazard

What Sullivan 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

75%of expected building damage

About average · lower than 53% of U.S. census tracts

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

13%of expected building damage

Well above average · higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts

Hail

9%of expected building damage

Well above average · higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Smaller shares here

Strong wind Earthquakes Wildfire Lightning Hurricanes Winter storms Ice storms Cold waves Heat waves Landslides

FEMA models no building damage here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts cold waves at 15% of Sullivan’s expected losses. Cold waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Sullivan flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1979

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Sullivan, from FEMA’s records.

Paid flood claims, by year

1979

19792026

paid claims since 1979

$215

paid to owners

homes flooded more than once

$215

average claim

of homes in flood zones are insured

of all homes are insured

No community discount

Sullivan isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Jefferson County.

Disasters

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Sullivan

Disasters that paid out in Sullivan itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Sullivan), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

2026Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$5K to the Village of Sullivan for repairs
2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding17 households applied for aid$13K aid approved
2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$1K to the Village of Sullivan for repairs
2007Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$11K aid approved
2004Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$147 aid approved

Disasters declared, by decade

Paid out in SullivanJefferson County only

Jefferson County has had 11 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.

Were you here?

Old photos of Sullivan after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Sullivan archive →

Next door

Sullivan and its neighbors

How expected damage per building compares across the town line. Tap a town to see its hazards.

ConcordSullivanSullivan

Lowest fifthSecondMiddleFourthHighest fifth

Town	Hazard risk	Mostly (buildings)	Flood claims
Sullivan	B⁺less damage than 69%	river and rain flooding	—
Concord	B⁺less damage than 67%	river and rain flooding	1

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.

Be ready

Get ready for what Sullivan faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises

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.

Questions about natural hazards in Sullivan

Does Sullivan flood?

Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Sullivan since 1979, $215 in all.

Is Sullivan 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 Jefferson County, 17% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Sullivan?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Sullivan’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 Sullivan?

By FEMA money that reached Sullivan, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2008): 17 households applied for aid, $13K approved.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Sullivan.

Town Square →

Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Sullivan’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.

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