Photo: Ascended Dreamer · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Lyndon faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lyndon gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns, #49 of 71 in Vermont. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 80 claims here since 1979.
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 Lyndon’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Lyndon 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
Hurricanes
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 Lyndon’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lyndon, and Lyndon’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 7% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #49 of 71 in Vermont; lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lyndon’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Vermont town has lower expected damage than 66% of U.S. towns; within the state, Lyndon has more expected damage per building than 69% of Vermont towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.0M a year in losses across Lyndon: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lyndon flood? Sometimes: 80 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lyndon, from FEMA’s records: 32.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Irene21 claims · $702K
- The Vermont/New York Flooding2 claims · $10K
Lyndon isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Caledonia County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lyndon
Disasters that paid out in Lyndon itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Lyndon), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides2 households applied for aid$1K aid approved$4.9M to the Town of Lyndon for repairs
- 2024Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides2 households applied for aid$19K aid approved$881K to the Town of Lyndon for repairs
- 2023Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides$418K to the Town of Lyndon for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$34K to the Town of Lyndon for repairs21 flood claims paid for it, $702K
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$63K to the Town of Lyndon for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$10K to the Town of Lyndon for repairs
Show all 7
- 2002Severe Storms and Flooding$208K to the Town of Lyndon for repairs22 flood claims paid that year
Caledonia County has had 26 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.
Old photos of Lyndon after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lyndon archive →Lyndon and its neighbors
Lyndon is 3rd of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Johnsbury | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 49 |
| Burke | Bless damage than 56% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Lyndon | B−less damage than 54% | river and rain flooding | 80 |
| Kirby | — | 756 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Wheelock | — | 717 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Sutton | — | 790 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Lyndon 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.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- 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 Lyndon
Is Lyndon at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lyndon has lower expected damage per building than 54% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #49 of 71 in Vermont. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and hurricanes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lyndon flood?
Flood insurance has paid 80 claims in Lyndon since 1979, $3.0M in all, or 32.6 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 18 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Irene (21).
Is Lyndon 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 Caledonia County, 0.9% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Lyndon?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lyndon’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 Lyndon?
By FEMA money that reached Lyndon, Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2024): 2 households applied for aid, $1K approved, and $4.9M to the Town of Lyndon for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Irene: 21 paid, $702K.
Is Lyndon at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Lyndon’s rate for it is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lyndon.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lyndon’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.