George Brothers Building · Photo: Stephen Schweitzer · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Lyme faces less hazard damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lyme gets an A+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 2008.
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 Lyme 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 Lyme’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lyme, and Lyme’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 76% of U.S. census tracts.
A+ lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lyme’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $486K a year in losses across Lyme: $402K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lyme flood? Rarely: 7 flood claims since 2008
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lyme, from FEMA’s records: 3.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 52% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Lyme isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Jefferson County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lyme
Disasters that paid out in Lyme itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Lyme), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2019Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$405K to the Town of Lyme for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2017Flooding$41K to the Town of Lyme for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2014Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$10K to the Town of Lyme for repairs
- 1999Snow$8K to the Town of Lyme for repairs
Jefferson County has had 15 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 Lyme after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lyme archive →Lyme and its neighbors
Lyme has the lowest expected damage per building of the 5 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lyme | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Hounsfield | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Cape Vincent | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Clayton | Aless damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Brownville | A−less damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
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 Lyme 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 Lyme
Is Lyme at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lyme has lower expected damage per building than 96% of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lyme flood?
Flood insurance has paid 7 claims in Lyme since 2008, $100K in all, or 3.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 52% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Lyme 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 Jefferson County, 0.6% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Lyme?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lyme’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 Lyme?
By FEMA money that reached Lyme, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2019): $405K to the Town of Lyme for repairs.
Is Lyme at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Lyme’s rate for it is lower than 76% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lyme.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lyme’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.