Photo: Teemu08 at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Lyons Township’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 69% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lyons Township gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns, #541 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 185 claims here since 1979.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Lyons Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Lyons Township faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Lyons Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lyons Township, and Lyons Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts).
C #541 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lyons Township’s residents live in 25 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Illinois town has higher expected damage than 54% of U.S. towns; within the state, Lyons Township has more expected damage per building than 70% of Illinois towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Lyons Township has higher expected damage per building than 62% (#248 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $68.8M, is the 174th largest of those 400.
Does Lyons Township flood? Yes: 185 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lyons Township, from FEMA’s records: 4.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike20 claims · $444K
- The Mid-spring storms19 claims · $417K
Lyons Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cook County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Lyons Township
Disasters that paid out in Lyons Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Lyons Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$6K to Lyons Township for repairs
Cook County has had 21 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Lyons Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lyons Township archive →Lyons Township and its neighbors
Lyons Township is 4th of the 11 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Grange | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Chicago | B−more damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 550 |
| Summit | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Lyons Township | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 185 |
| Stickney Township | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 30 |
| Proviso Township | C−more damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 2,580 |
| Riverside | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 130 |
| Palos Township | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 80 |
| Riverside Township | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 184 |
| La Grange Park | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Lyons | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 69 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Lyons Township faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Lyons Township
Is Lyons Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lyons Township has higher expected damage per building than 69% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #541 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lyons Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 185 claims in Lyons Township since 1979, $2.9M in all, or 4.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (20).
Is Lyons Township in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Cook County, 32% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Lyons Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lyons Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Lyons Township?
By FEMA money that reached Lyons Township, Il-winter Storm 1/1/99 (1999): $6K to Lyons Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 20 paid, $444K.
Is Lyons Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Lyons Township’s rate for it is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lyons Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lyons Township’s residents lived in the 2020 census; 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. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.