Storms, floods and disasters in Lyons Falls
Lyons Falls isn’t graded for hazard risk: Lyons Falls has 569 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1998.
What Lyons Falls 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.
Does Lyons Falls flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1998
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lyons Falls, from FEMA’s records.
Lyons Falls 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.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Lyons Falls
Disasters that paid out in Lyons Falls itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Lyons Falls), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2004Snow$2K to the Village of Lyons Falls 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 Lyons Falls after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lyons Falls archive →Lyons Falls and its neighbors
How expected damage per building compares across the town line. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Turin | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Lyonsdale | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | — |
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 Lyons Falls 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 Lyons Falls
Does Lyons Falls flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Lyons Falls since 1998, $83K in all.
Is Lyons Falls 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 Lyons Falls?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lyons Falls’ 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 Lyons Falls?
By FEMA money that reached Lyons Falls, Snow (2004): $2K to the Village of Lyons Falls for repairs.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lyons Falls.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lyons Falls’ 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.