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Sullivan County, New Hampshire

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

Very Low overall risk
10th of 10highest risk in New Hampshire
$15Mexpected losses a year
31federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Sullivan County, New Hampshire has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 62% of US counties. It ranks 10th of 10 counties in New Hampshire. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $15 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $347 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (21 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2024 (severe winter storm and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (92 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $1.3 million on 62 claims here, including $593,000 for floods in 2021.

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

Top risks in Sullivan County

$11.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.
$682,772 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$561,307 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 15 years.
  • Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
  • Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow60.6
$12M
Cold waveLow35.4
$683K
HurricaneLow67.0
$561K
TornadoVery Low22.7
$383K
Heat waveLow44.5
$361K
LightningLow52.4
$324K
Strong windLow24.6
$295K
EarthquakeVery Low43.1
$235K
Ice stormModerate66.7
$233K
HailVery Low17.4
$78K
Winter weatherLow48.5
$77K
LandslideLow77.0
$14K
WildfireVery Low13.7
$6K
AvalancheVery Low24.9
$80

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 very 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 Storm11
Flood8
Snowstorm5
Hurricane5
Severe Ice Storm1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jul 10, 2024Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 14, 2023Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 4, 2021Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 2, 2018Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 2, 2013Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 19, 2013Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Nov 28, 2012Hurricane SandyMajor disaster
Oct 30, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Nov 1, 2011Severe StormEmergency
Sep 3, 2011Tropical Storm IreneMajor disaster
Show all 31
Aug 27, 2011Hurricane IreneEmergency
Mar 29, 2010Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 2, 2009Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Dec 13, 2008Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 27, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 26, 2005Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Apr 28, 2005Record SnowEmergency
Mar 30, 2005Record And/Or Near Record SnowEmergency
Mar 30, 2005Record SnowEmergency
Jan 15, 2004SnowEmergency
Sep 12, 2003Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 2, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 15, 1998Severe Ice Storm, Rains and High WindsMajor disaster
Oct 29, 1996Fall Northeaster RainstormMajor disaster
Jan 3, 1996Excessive Rainfall, High Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 16, 1993Blizzards, High Winds & Record SnowfallEmergency
Aug 29, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 16, 1987Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 27, 1986Severe Storms, FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 11, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

New Hampshire also had 1 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 281 storm reports in Sullivan County since 1955, with 1 death and 3 injuries and about $8.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on July 9, 1962.

7tornadoes
54hail reports, largest 2 inches
163damaging thunderstorm winds
51floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 9, 1962F2–0 / 0
Aug 13, 1999F1East Plainfield0 / 0
Jul 18, 1963F1–0 / 0
May 16, 2022EF1North Charlestown0 / 0
Oct 24, 1955F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 2, 2013Flash FloodClaremont$2M
Jul 29, 2021Flash FloodAcworth$1M
Oct 21, 1996Flash FloodLempster$1M
Apr 16, 2007FloodNewport$800K
Aug 28, 2011FloodPlainfield$800K
Jul 2, 2013Flash FloodCornish City$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 15, 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.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1858, 1 hurricane and 13 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Sullivan County, 7 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Gloria (1985), with top winds near 80 mph about 60 miles away.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
13tropical storms
2011most recent: Irene

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 27, 1985GloriaCategory 1, 80 mph60 mi
Sep 16, 1858UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph61 mi
Sep 12, 1960DonnaTropical storm, 70 mph65 mi
Aug 24, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph46 mi
Sep 30, 1874UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph55 mi
Aug 29, 1893UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph48 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 28, 2011IreneTropical storm, 55 mph54 mi
Sep 27, 1985GloriaCategory 1, 80 mph60 mi
Aug 10, 1976BelleTropical storm, 40 mph53 mi
Aug 28, 1971DoriaTropical storm, 55 mph31 mi
Sep 12, 1960DonnaTropical storm, 70 mph65 mi
Jul 30, 1960BrendaTropical storm, 50 mph56 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Sullivan County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (92 policies)
17.2%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1.3 millionpaid on 62 flood claims since 1978
2021costliest year, with $592,952 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

$268,700median home value (New Hampshire $402,500, US $332,700)
1974median year homes were built (New Hampshire 1979, US 1980)
61%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.7%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; 21,958 housing units.

Compare in New Hampshire

All 10 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Hillsborough CountyModerateInland flooding
Rockingham CountyModerateInland flooding
Merrimack CountyLowInland flooding
Strafford CountyLowInland flooding
Grafton CountyModerateInland flooding
Cheshire CountyLowInland flooding
Belknap CountyLowInland flooding
Carroll CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Hillsborough CountyModerate29
Merrimack CountyLow27
Grafton CountyModerate38
Cheshire CountyLow31
Windsor County, VTLow25
Windham County, VTLow22

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 $11.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $682,772.

How many federal disasters has Sullivan County had?

Sullivan County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 21 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Flooding in July 2024.

Is Sullivan County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 10th highest of 10 in New Hampshire. 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. About 1 in 143 homes in Sullivan County has federal flood insurance. 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 7 tornadoes in Sullivan County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on July 9, 1962. The weather service has also logged 54 hail reports and 51 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Sullivan County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 13 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Sullivan County. The strongest was Hurricane Gloria (1985), with winds near 80 mph.

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.