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Sullivan County, Indiana

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
78th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$8Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Sullivan County, Indiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 79% of US counties. It ranks 78th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $7.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $380 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (13 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 4 homes here carry federal flood insurance.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Sullivan County

$2.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
$1.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 230 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 3 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low23.0
$3M
EarthquakeLow77.9
$1M
TornadoLow48.0
$1M
Cold waveLow39.7
$696K
Strong windLow50.6
$596K
Heat waveLow47.2
$350K
HailLow46.2
$241K
DroughtLow56.5
$239K
Winter weatherLow52.8
$75K
Ice stormLow37.0
$49K
LightningVery Low11.6
$42K
HurricaneVery Low24.2
$9K
LandslideVery Low56.2
$2K
WildfireVery Low2.8
$1K

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively low and community resilience is relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Sullivan County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm10
Flood3
Snowstorm2
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 15, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 22, 2014Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jun 23, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, AndMajor disaster
Jun 8, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 21, 2005Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2005SnowEmergency
Sep 1, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 25, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 17
Jun 13, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 22, 1998Severe Storms and Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 3, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 2, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Jan 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 31, 1979Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency

Indiana also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 246 storm reports in Sullivan County since 1956, with 3 deaths and 9 injuries and about $50.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on March 31, 2023 near Riverton.

15tornadoes
46hail reports, largest 4 inches
119damaging thunderstorm winds
64floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 31, 2023EF3Riverton8 / 3
Apr 29, 1963F3–0 / 0
May 27, 1973F2–0 / 0
Jun 11, 1957F2–0 / 0
Sep 5, 1969F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 2, 2008FloodMerom Station$30M
Mar 31, 2023TornadoRiverton$18M
Feb 19, 2026TornadoCarlisle$300K
Apr 29, 1963Tornado–$250K
May 27, 1973Tornado–$250K
May 6, 2002Flash FloodCountywide$150K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 21, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Flood insurance in Sullivan County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (4 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$42,215paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $42,215 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Sullivan County

$131,100median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1973median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
58%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11.3%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 8,791 housing units.

Compare in Indiana

All 92 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Marion CountyHighInland flooding
Lake CountyHighInland flooding
Allen CountyModerateInland flooding
Hamilton CountyModerateInland flooding
St. Joseph CountyModerateInland flooding
Elkhart CountyModerateInland flooding
Tippecanoe CountyModerateInland flooding
Vanderburgh CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Vigo CountyModerate14
Knox CountyLow16
Greene CountyVery Low17
Clay CountyVery Low18
Crawford County, ILVery Low7
Clark County, ILVery Low8

Common questions about Sullivan County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Sullivan County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Sullivan County, about $2.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $1.5 million.

How many federal disasters has Sullivan County had?

Sullivan County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 13 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Sullivan County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 78th highest of 92 in Indiana. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Sullivan County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Sullivan County had?

NOAA records list 15 tornadoes in Sullivan County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on March 31, 2023 near Riverton. The weather service has also logged 46 hail reports and 64 floods here.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.