Enter any address in Sullivan County, Tennessee to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the dominant flood character in Sullivan County. Over the past 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 29 flash flood events and 21 flood events. For example, on August 13, 2025, multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms produced heavy rain, leading to flash flooding in the county. Similar conditions occurred on July 30, 2025, when training thunderstorms caused flash flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $11,043 and an average water depth of 3.6 feet. Properties in Zone X_SHADED also saw significant payouts, averaging $19,962, though with an average water depth of 0.0 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X_UNSHADED with an average water depth of 1.9 feet, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
7 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Sullivan County, Tennessee has recorded 50 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 29 flash floods and 21 river or area floods. The county has received 12 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 22, 2026 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 2, 2025 |
| Tropical Storm Helene | Tropical Storm | Sep 26, 2024 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Associated Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 25, 2011 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jan 6, 1998 |
| Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm | Snowstorm | Mar 13, 1993 |
| Tornadoes | Tornado | Apr 4, 1974 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 30, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Aug 13, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 13, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 26, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 14, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 24, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 28, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 28, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 6, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 6, 2020 | 2.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 30, 2025
Training thunderstorms affected the far northeast Tennessee valley and southwest Virginia on the evening of the 30th, producing some flash flooding across those areas.
Flood — Aug 13, 2025
Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms overnight, culminated with some particularly heavy rain on the morning of August 13th in both Knox and Sullivan counties. This resulted in some flash flooding in both areas.
Flash Flood — Aug 13, 2025
Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms overnight, culminated with some particularly heavy rain on the morning of August 13th in both Knox and Sullivan counties. This resulted in some flash flooding in both areas.
Flood — Sep 26, 2024
Tropical Storm Helene caps off a several day heavy rainfall event in association with a stalled closed upper low that drew a stream of tropical moisture into the area on the 25th and 26th. The arrival of Helene on the 27th yielded catastrophic flash flooding and river flooding, as well as significant wind damage as wet soils and strong wind gusts led to forest damage.
Flood — Jul 14, 2023
Surface low pressure just east of the spine of the Appalachians produced heavy rains not only in North Carolina and Virginia, but also to the west of the Appalachians of northeast Tennessee, which produced flash flooding.
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, Tennessee:
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, Tennessee 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.