Lewis County

New York — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

24.7

National percentile: 25th

Lewis County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 24.7, 25th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and winter weather exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $9M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $9M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Low Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Very High Capacity to recover
Population 27K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Ice Storm
Medium $294K/yr
Winter Weather
Medium $136K/yr
Landslide
Very Low $2K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Ice Storm Medium 0.73 / yr $294K
Winter Weather Medium 42.14 / yr $136K
Landslide Very Low 0.62 / yr $2K
Riverine Flood Low 1.04 / yr $7M
Hurricane Very Low 0.01 / yr $64K
Earthquake Very Low 0.00 / yr $255K
Strong Wind Low 0.94 / yr $354K
Cold Wave Low 5.16 / yr $380K
Lightning Very Low 25.77 / yr $89K
Tornado Very Low 0.13 / yr $201K
Heat Wave Very Low 1.16 / yr $41K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $5K
Hail Very Low 1.04 / yr $22K
Avalanche Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Coastal Flood Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Drought Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Tsunami Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Volcanic Activity Very Low 0.00 / yr $0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall natural disaster risk for Lewis County?

Lewis County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 24.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 25th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Lewis County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (Medium, $294K EAL), Winter Weather (Medium, $136K EAL), Landslide (Very Low, $2K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Lewis County compare to other New York counties?

Lewis County ranks #59 of 62 New York counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.

What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?

EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Lewis County's $9M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.