Whig Hill and Dependencies · Photo: Gilbert Ask, Photographer · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Lysander faces less hazard damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lysander gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns, #445 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). Flood insurance has paid 45 claims here since 1978.
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 stands out about Lysander’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Lysander 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 Lysander’s grade
River and rain flooding is 92% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lysander, and Lysander’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
B #445 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lysander’s residents live in 4 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, Lysander has more expected damage per building than 59% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.3M a year in losses across Lysander: $5.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lysander flood? Sometimes: 45 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lysander, from FEMA’s records: 4.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Torrential rain3 claims · $59K
- The Blizzard of 19931 claim · $19K
Lysander isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Onondaga County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lysander
Disasters that paid out in Lysander itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Lysander), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Tropical Storm Fred$24K to the Town of Lysander for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Ice Storm1 households applied for aid$756 aid approved$43K to the Town of Lysander for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Onondaga County has had 13 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, 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 Lysander after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lysander archive →Lysander and its neighbors
Lysander is 6th of the 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salina | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Geddes | Aless damage than 89% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Ira | Aless damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Clay | A−less damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 53 |
| Elbridge | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Lysander | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 45 |
| Van Buren | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 29 |
| Schroeppel | Cmore damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Cato | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Phoenix | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Radisson | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Lysander 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 Lysander
Is Lysander at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lysander has lower expected damage per building than 61% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk, #445 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (92%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lysander flood?
Flood insurance has paid 45 claims in Lysander since 1978, $824K in all, or 4.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Torrential rain (3).
Is Lysander 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 Onondaga County, 28% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Lysander?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lysander’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 Lysander?
By FEMA money that reached Lysander, Ice Storm (2003): 1 households applied for aid, $756 approved, and $43K to the Town of Lysander for repairs. By flood claims, Torrential rain: 3 paid, $59K.
Is Lysander at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (92%), and Lysander’s rate for it is higher than 66% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lysander.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lysander’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.