FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Lyonsdale as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lyonsdale gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). 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 Lyonsdale 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 Lyonsdale’s grade
River and rain flooding is 91% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lyonsdale, and Lyonsdale’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lyonsdale’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $435K a year in losses across Lyonsdale: $393K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lyonsdale flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Lyonsdale. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Lyonsdale 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.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lyonsdale
Disasters that paid out in Lyonsdale itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Lyonsdale), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Tropical Storm Fred$32K to the Town of Lyonsdale for repairs
- 2014Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding$4K to the Town of Lyonsdale for repairs
- 2014Severe Storms and Flooding$8K to the Town of Lyonsdale for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds$14K to the Town of Lyonsdale for repairs
- 2007Record Snow and Near Record Snow$7K to the Town of Lyonsdale for repairs
- 2004Snow$8K to the Town of Lyonsdale for repairs
Show all 7
- 1999Snow$5K to the Town of Lyonsdale 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 Lyonsdale after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lyonsdale archive →Lyonsdale and its neighbors
Lyonsdale is 5th of the 6 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boonville | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Leyden | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| West Turin | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Forestport | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Lyonsdale | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Greig | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Lyons Falls | — | 569 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Turin | — | not graded yet | |
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 Lyonsdale 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 Lyonsdale
Is Lyonsdale at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lyonsdale has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (91%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Lyonsdale 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 Lyonsdale?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lyonsdale’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 Lyonsdale?
By FEMA money that reached Lyonsdale, Remnants of Tropical Storm Fred (2021): $32K to the Town of Lyonsdale for repairs.
Is Lyonsdale at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (91%), and Lyonsdale’s rate for it is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lyonsdale.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lyonsdale’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.