Sullivan County, Pennsylvania
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Sullivan County, Pennsylvania has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 89% of US counties. It ranks 66th of 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hurricanes and strong wind. FEMA estimates about $4.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $697 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2024 (Tropical Storm Debby). About 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (58 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $3.9 million on 134 claims here, including $2.3 million for floods in 2011.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Sullivan County
- 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.
- 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.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 37.4 | $4M | ||
| Hurricane | 58.9 | $151K | ||
| Strong wind | 13.0 | $84K | ||
| Tornado | 12.2 | $78K | ||
| Cold wave | 10.7 | $68K | ||
| Lightning | 15.6 | $43K | ||
| Earthquake | 24.5 | $34K | ||
| Winter weather | 30.8 | $25K | ||
| Heat wave | 6.9 | $8K | ||
| Hail | 3.4 | $5K | ||
| Ice storm | 11.5 | $5K | ||
| Landslide | 64.3 | $3K | ||
| Avalanche | 64.3 | $2K | ||
| Wildfire | 6.0 | $2K |
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 high and community resilience is very 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
Most recent
Show all 23
Pennsylvania also had 7 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1954
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 179 storm reports in Sullivan County since 1954, with 1 death and 2 injuries and about $11.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on September 19, 1954.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 19, 1954 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 14, 1974 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 8, 2014 | EF2 | Cherry Mills | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 16, 1997 | F1 | Nordmont | 0 / 1 |
| Apr 15, 2019 | EF1 | Millview | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 21, 2016 | Flash Flood | Hillsgrove | $7M |
| Aug 28, 2011 | Flash Flood | Colley | $2M |
| Apr 26, 2011 | Flash Flood | Dushore | $2M |
| Apr 15, 2019 | Tornado | Millview | $500K |
| Jul 1, 1999 | Tornado | Hugos Corners | $200K |
| Sep 19, 1954 | Tornado | – | $25K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 1878, 1 hurricane and 5 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Sullivan County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 85 mph about 60 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 1878 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 60 mi |
| Sep 16, 1903 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 58 mi |
| Aug 29, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 44 mi |
| Aug 24, 1933 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 6, 1979 | David | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 56 mi |
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 58 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 6, 1979 | David | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 56 mi |
| Aug 29, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 44 mi |
| Aug 24, 1933 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 16, 1903 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 58 mi |
| Aug 21, 1888 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 58 mi |
| Oct 23, 1878 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 60 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 ›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
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; 5,584 housing units.
Compare in Pennsylvania
All 67 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia County | Inland flooding | |
| Allegheny County | Inland flooding | |
| Montgomery County | Inland flooding | |
| Bucks County | Inland flooding | |
| Delaware County | Inland flooding | |
| Lancaster County | Inland flooding | |
| Chester County | Inland flooding | |
| York County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Luzerne County | 21 | |
| Lycoming County | 19 | |
| Columbia County | 18 | |
| Bradford County | 19 | |
| Wyoming County | 25 |
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 $3.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hurricane is second at $151,092.
How many federal disasters has Sullivan County had?
Sullivan County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Tropical Storm Debby in September 2024.
Is Sullivan County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 66th highest of 67 in Pennsylvania. 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 100 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 13 tornadoes in Sullivan County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on September 19, 1954. The weather service has also logged 19 hail reports and 34 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Sullivan County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 5 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Sullivan County. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with winds near 85 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.