Photo: Teemu08 at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Lyons than in 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lyons gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns, #716 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 69 claims here since 1985.
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 Lyons 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’ grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lyons, and Lyons’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 5% (higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts).
D #716 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lyons’ residents live in 4 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 has more expected damage per building than 93% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.4M a year in losses across Lyons: $4.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lyons flood? Sometimes: 69 flood claims since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lyons, from FEMA’s records: 15.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms16 claims · $391K
- Hurricane Ike14 claims · $365K
Lyons 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.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lyons
Disasters that paid out in Lyons itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Lyons), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng20 households applied for aid$78K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$9K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding48 households applied for aid$108K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding50 households applied for aid$169K aid approved16 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$16K to the Village of Lyons for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding95 households applied for aid$198K aid approved14 flood claims paid that year
Show all 9
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding14 households applied for aid$24K aid approved$25K to the Village of Lyons for repairs15 flood claims paid that year
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$8K to the Village of Lyons for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$14K to the Village of Lyons 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 after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lyons archive →Lyons and its neighbors
Lyons is 7th of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brookfield | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| 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 |
| Riverside | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 130 |
| Riverside Township | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 184 |
| Lyons | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 69 |
| McCook | — | 268 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Forest View | — | not graded yet | |
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 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
Is Lyons at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lyons has higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #716 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%) and tornadoes (5%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lyons flood?
Flood insurance has paid 69 claims in Lyons since 1985, $1.5M in all, or 15.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 16 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (16).
Is Lyons 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?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lyons’ 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?
By FEMA money that reached Lyons, Severe Storms and Flooding (2010): 95 households applied for aid, $198K approved. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 16 paid, $391K.
Is Lyons at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Lyons’ rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lyons.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lyons’ 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.