Enter any address in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense thunderstorms dominates the flood character of Sullivan County. Between 2025 and 2025, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 23 flash flood events and 14 flood events, with one tropical storm also impacting the area. For example, on July 13, 2025, thunderstorms produced rainfall rates exceeding two inches per hour, leading to flooding and flash flooding. Similar conditions on July 14, 2025, resulted in saturated soils and numerous instances of flash flooding across the region.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $22,769 and an average water depth of 5.7 feet. Properties in Zone X and Zone X_Unshaded have also seen claims, with Zone X claims averaging a higher payout of $37,476 despite a lower average water depth of 1.8 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X and Zone X_Unshaded, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
10 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Sullivan County, Pennsylvania has recorded 38 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 23 flash floods and 14 river or area floods. The county has received 25 federal disaster declarations, 7 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1972–2024)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm Debby | Tropical Storm | Aug 9, 2024 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Aug 10, 2018 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Oct 20, 2016 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 26, 2012 |
| Remnants Of Tropical Storm Lee | Flood | Sep 3, 2011 |
| Tropical Storm Lee | Flood | Sep 3, 2011 |
| Hurricane Irene | Hurricane | Aug 26, 2011 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 25, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jul 14, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 13, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 5, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 18, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 16, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 15, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 14, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 13, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 7, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 3, 2018 | 0.00K |
Flood — Jul 14, 2025
A fairly moist and unstable environment ahead of a shortwave trough allowed for showers and thunderstorms to begin forming across central Pennsylvania during the morning hours of July 14, 2025. Showers and thunderstorms became more numerous into the early afternoon hours, pushing eastward through the evening hours. Saturated soils across eastern Pennsylvania from recent flooding allowed for num...
Flood — Jul 14, 2025
A shortwave trough, moving through an unstable and extremely moist air mass (PWATs over 2.00) over central Pennsylvania, allowed for showers and thunderstorms to develop across the area during the afternoon hours of July 13, 2025. Thunderstorms in this environment began to become strong-to-severe; however, rainfall rates within the thunderstorms were the most notable feature, topping out over t...
Flash Flood — Jul 13, 2025
A shortwave trough, moving through an unstable and extremely moist air mass (PWATs over 2.00) over central Pennsylvania, allowed for showers and thunderstorms to develop across the area during the afternoon hours of July 13, 2025. Thunderstorms in this environment began to become strong-to-severe; however, rainfall rates within the thunderstorms were the most notable feature, topping out over t...
Flood — Mar 5, 2025
Heavy rain combined with snow melt and an ice jam to cause minor flooding near Forksville in Sullivan County on March 5, 2005. The ice jam occurred on Mill Creek just above its confluence with Lick Creek.
Flood — Dec 18, 2023
A strong coastal storm developed over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, crossed the Florida peninsula, and pushed northward up the East Coast from December 17 through December 19, 2023. This system produced 2-4 of rainfall across the eastern half of Pennsylvania, which led to localized flooding. As colder air rushed in behind the system, 6 to 8 inches of snow fell across portions of Pennsylvania's La...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.