South Peterboro Street Commercial Historic District · Photo: Doug Kerr from Upstate New York · CC BY-SA 2.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Lenox as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lenox gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #450 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 10 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 Lenox 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
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 Lenox’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lenox, and Lenox’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
B #450 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lenox’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Lenox has more expected damage per building than 59% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.1M a year in losses across Lenox: $1.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lenox flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lenox, from FEMA’s records: 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The December Storm - nor’easter1 claim · $7K
Lenox isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Madison County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lenox
Disasters that paid out in Lenox itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Lenox), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$14K to the Town of Lenox for repairs
- 2000Severe Storms and Flooding$17K to the Town of Lenox for repairs
Madison County has had 18 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; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Lenox after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lenox archive →Lenox and its neighbors
Lenox has the lowest expected damage per building of the 6 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lenox | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Lincoln | B−less damage than 51% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Verona | B−more damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Sullivan | Cmore damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 46 |
| Oneida | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 119 |
| Vienna | Dmore damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 22 |
| Wampsville | — | 540 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 Lenox 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.
- 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 Lenox
Is Lenox at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lenox has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #450 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lenox flood?
Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in Lenox since 1979, $45K in all, or 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from December Storm - Nor'easter (1).
Is Lenox 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 Madison County, 1.1% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Lenox?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lenox’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 Lenox?
By FEMA money that reached Lenox, Severe Storms and Flooding (2000): $17K to the Town of Lenox for repairs. By flood claims, December Storm - Nor'easter: 1 paid, $7K.
Is Lenox at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Lenox’s rate for it is higher than 67% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lenox.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lenox’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.