Sullivan County, NY
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Sullivan County has experienced 35 federally declared disasters since 1965, most recently Hurricane Henri in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Sullivan County's highest-rated hazards are inland flooding, hurricane, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 33% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (87th percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Sullivan County has been designated in 35 declarations since 1965, covering 8 disaster types including severe storm (12), hurricane (8), snowstorm (5).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Hurricane | Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Henri |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee |
| 2011 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irene |
Showing the 10 most recent of 35 total declarations since 1965.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 29.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 86.6 | 18 | 0 | $170K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 68.3 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 40.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 71.3 | 2 | 0 | $212K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 79.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 35.2 | 15 | 0 | $25K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 64.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 64 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 53.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 78.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 75.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 24.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 77 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 36 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Sullivan County ranks in the 87th percentile (High) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 87th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 75th | High |
| Household characteristics | 77th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 69th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 95th | High |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 32nd | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 32nd | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 87.3% | — |
NOAA tracked 35 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 15 in 2016–20 vs 20 in 2021–25 (+33% — frequency increasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Sullivan County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Sullivan County, New York are inland flooding, hurricane, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Sullivan County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Sullivan County has received 35 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (12 declarations).
Has Sullivan County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Sullivan County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Hurricane Henri in 2021.
How does Sullivan County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Orange County, NY has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Wayne County, PA has the lowest (Relatively Low). Sullivan County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Sullivan County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Sullivan County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Sullivan County's composite score of 78 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 78% of US counties.