Photo: Infrarrojo00 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA expects less hazard damage per building in Lisbon than in 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lisbon gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #183 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%), then earthquakes (11%). 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 Lisbon 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
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 Lisbon’s grade
River and rain flooding is 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lisbon, and Lisbon’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 11% (higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts).
A #183 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Lisbon’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Lisbon has less expected damage per building than 76% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $850K a year in losses across Lisbon: $575K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lisbon flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Lisbon. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Lisbon isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: St. Lawrence County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lisbon
Disasters that paid out in Lisbon itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Lisbon), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2017Flooding$9K to the Town of Lisbon for repairs
- 1999Snow$6K to the Town of Lisbon for repairs
St. Lawrence County has had 13 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter 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 Lisbon after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lisbon archive →Lisbon and its neighbors
Lisbon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lisbon | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Canton | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Waddington | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Madrid | Bless damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Ogdensburg | Bless damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Oswegatchie | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
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 Lisbon 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.
- 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 Lisbon
Is Lisbon at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lisbon has lower expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #183 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (83%) and earthquakes (11%). 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 Lisbon 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 St. Lawrence County, 0.2% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Lisbon?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lisbon’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 Lisbon?
By FEMA money that reached Lisbon, Flooding (2017): $9K to the Town of Lisbon for repairs.
Is Lisbon at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Lisbon’s rate for it is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lisbon.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lisbon’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.