Shakamak State Park Historic District · Photo: Chris Light · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Lewis Township as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lewis Township gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%), then earthquakes (15%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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 Lewis 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
Earthquakes
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 Lewis Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 69% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lewis Township, and Lewis Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 15% (higher than 80% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Lewis Township’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $771K a year in losses across Lewis Township: $419K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lewis Township flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Lewis Township. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Lewis 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: Clay County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Lewis Township
Disasters that paid out in Lewis Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Lewis Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes5 households applied for aid$20K aid approved
Clay County has had 17 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Lewis Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lewis Township archive →Lewis Township and its neighbors
Lewis Township is 5th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wright Township | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Jackson Township | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Pierson Township | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Harrison Township | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Lewis Township | C+more damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Smith Township | — | 300 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Perry Township | — | 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 Lewis 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Lewis Township
Is Lewis Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lewis Township has higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (69%) and earthquakes (15%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Lewis 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 Clay County, 12% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Lewis Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lewis 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 Lewis Township?
By FEMA money that reached Lewis Township, Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes (2008): 5 households applied for aid, $20K approved.
Is Lewis Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (69%), and Lewis Township’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lewis Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lewis 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.