Meyerhofer Cobblestone House · Photo: Jim Roberts · CC BY-SA 4.0On FEMA’s figures, Lyons faces less hazard damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lyons gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #169 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%), then tornadoes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 2017.
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 Lyons 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
Tornadoes
Hail
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 Lyons’ grade
River and rain flooding is 72% of the building damage FEMA expects in Lyons, and Lyons’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 14% (higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #169 of 362 in Wisconsin; lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Lyons’ residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Wisconsin town has lower expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Lyons has less expected damage per building than 53% of Wisconsin towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Lyons: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Lyons flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 2017
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Lyons, from FEMA’s records: 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 57% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The 2026-04-Flooding1 claim · $12K
Lyons isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Walworth County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Lyons
Disasters that paid out in Lyons itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Lyons), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$10K to the Town of Lyons for repairs
- 2008Record Snow and Near Record Snow$8K to the Town of Lyons for repairs
- 2000Snow$3K to the Town of Lyons for repairs
Walworth County has had 10 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Lyons after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Lyons archive →Lyons and its neighbors
Lyons is 3rd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Geneva | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Geneva | Aless damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Lyons | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Bloomfield | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Burlington | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Spring Prairie | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Burlington | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Bohners Lake | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Bloomfield | — | not graded yet | |
| Lake Ivanhoe | — | 558 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 Lyons 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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
Is Lyons at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Lyons has lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #169 of 362 in Wisconsin. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (72%) and tornadoes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Lyons flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Lyons since 2017, $146K in all, or 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 57% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from 2026-04-Flooding (1).
Is Lyons 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 Walworth County, 38% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Lyons?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Lyons’ 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?
By FEMA money that reached Lyons, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (2011): $10K to the Town of Lyons for repairs. By flood claims, 2026-04-Flooding: 1 paid, $12K.
Is Lyons at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (72%), and Lyons’ rate for it is lower than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Lyons.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Lyons’ 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.