Natural hazards · Sullivan

Sullivan, ME natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Sullivan comes from hurricanes, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. 2 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Sullivan?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Sullivan to be higher than in 37% of U.S. communities, mostly from hurricanes and inland flooding.

Hurricanes32%Inland flooding25%Coastal flooding12%Cold waves11%Ice storms6%Lightning5%Everything else9%

By hazard

What Sullivan faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Hurricanes

32% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 88% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 9 years in the area

Inland flooding

25% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 6% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Coastal flooding

12% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 98% of U.S. places

Cold waves

11% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 44% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Ice storms

6% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 97% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lightning

5% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 55% of U.S. places

Lower here

TornadoesHailWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windDrought

Not a risk here

AvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Sullivan flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Sullivan.

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Sullivan isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Hancock County.

Disasters that hit Sullivan

2 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Sullivan itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the Town of Sullivan.

Brought FEMA money into SullivanDeclared for Hancock County only

2024

Severe Storms and Flooding

11 households applied for aid $22K aid approved

2007

Flooding

$23K to the Town of Sullivan for repairs

Hancock County has had 19 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around Sullivan

Sullivan and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Gouldsboromostly hurricanesModerate

Sullivanmostly hurricanesLow

Sorrentomostly hurricanesLow

Franklinmostly hurricanesLow

Hancockmostly hurricanesLow

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Sullivan covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Sullivan’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Town of Sullivan. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Sullivan total about $972K a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.