Harris Bridge · Photo: SharonPapierdreams · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Americus Township faces more hazard damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Americus Township gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (58%), then wildfire (24%). Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1993.
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 Americus 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
Wildfire
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 Americus Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 58% of the building damage FEMA expects in Americus Township, and Americus Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 24%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
C− higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Americus Township’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.1M a year in losses across Americus Township: $631K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Americus Township flood? Rarely: 8 flood claims since 1993
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Americus Township, from FEMA’s records: 15.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Americus 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: Lyon County.The storms Americus Township remembers
None of the 23 disasters declared for Lyon County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Americus Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 19984 flood claims paidThe year of Ks-flooding 10/31/98, declared for Lyon County
- 19931 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms and Flooding, declared for Lyon County
- 19961 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Lyon County has had 23 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 Americus Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Americus Township archive →Americus Township and its neighbors
Americus Township has the lowest expected damage per building of the 1 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Americus Township | C−more damage than 76% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Fremont Township | — | 885 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Emporia Township | — | 961 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Pike Township | — | 782 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Agnes City Township | — | 548 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Americus 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.
- Clear dead leaves and brush within 5 feet of the house.
- Sign up for local alerts and know two ways out.
- Keep N95 masks for smoky days.
- 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 Americus Township
Is Americus Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Americus Township has higher expected damage per building than 76% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (58%) and wildfire (24%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Americus Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 8 claims in Americus Township since 1993, $66K in all, or 15.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 81% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Americus 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 Lyon County, 5% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Americus Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Americus Township’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
Is Americus Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (58%), and Americus Township’s rate for it is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Americus Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Americus 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.