FEMA puts Lowville’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lowville gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #387 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1982.
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 Lowville 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 Lowville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lowville, and Lowville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 4%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ #387 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lowville’s residents live in 3 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, Lowville has more expected damage per building than 51% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.2M a year in losses across Lowville: $1.0M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lowville flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1982
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lowville, from FEMA’s records: 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 87% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Lowville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Lewis County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lowville
Disasters that paid out in Lowville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Lowville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm, Tornadoes, and Flooding$628K to the Village of Lowville for repairs
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$4K to the Village of Lowville for repairs
- 2014Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$5K to the Village of Lowville for repairs
- 2007Record Snow and Near Record Snow$5K to the Village of Lowville for repairs
- 2004Snow$4K to the Village of Lowville for repairs
- 1999Snow$3K to the Village of Lowville for repairs
Lewis County has had 22 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Lowville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lowville archive →Get ready for what Lowville 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 Lowville
Is Lowville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lowville has lower expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #387 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lowville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Lowville since 1982, $4K in all, or 0.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 87% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Lowville 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 Lewis County, 0.4% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Lowville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lowville’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 Lowville?
By FEMA money that reached Lowville, Severe Storm, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2024): $628K to the Village of Lowville for repairs.
Is Lowville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Lowville’s rate for it is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lowville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lowville’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.