Key facts: Lawrence
Old West Lawrence and East Lawrence
A closer look in Lawrence
The KU rental market
The university shapes a large rental market.[3] Tenants should report leaks in writing right away and photograph belongings. Owners should check on vacant units over winter break, when a slow leak or a frozen line can run for days with nobody home.
Flood claims recorded in Douglas County
Lawrence sits in Douglas County. FEMA publishes every National Flood Insurance Program claim with personal details removed, which gives a plain record of where water has reached insured buildings here.
| Measure | Count |
|---|---|
| Flood insurance claims on record | 150 |
| Year with the most claims | 1996 (44) |
| Largest named event | Midwest Flooding (18) |
| Claims outside high-risk A and V zones | 39% |
| Claims on buildings built before 1975 | 54% |
County-wide counts of insured claims only. Uninsured losses, burst pipes and appliance leaks are not in this data.
What the Lawrence claim record shows
About 39% of claims with a recorded zone came from outside the high-risk A and V zones, so a moderate-risk label does not mean a Lawrence home stays dry.
If your Lawrence home is older, note that buildings from before 1975 make up 54% of county claims with a known build date. Many predate current flood maps, so inspect low outlets, ductwork and subfloors closely after any water event.
Federal disaster history for Douglas County
FEMA lists 21 federal declarations covering Douglas County. The most common types are severe storm (13), biological (2) and flood (2). The latest are Covid-19 Pandemic in 2020, Covid-19 in 2020 and Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,and Mudslides in 2019. If your loss falls inside an open declaration, Lawrence homeowners can check DisasterAssistance.gov as well as their insurance policy.
Lawrence weather and your home
Weather records for Lawrence from 2015 through 2024 average 42 inches of precipitation a year, and May and July are the wettest months. The area averages 9.0 days a year with an inch or more.
Lawrence falls to 20°F or below on about 26 nights a year, which puts pipes in exterior walls, crawl spaces and garages at risk.
When rain falls in Lawrence
Seasonal averages for Lawrence, 2015 through 2024. Plan roof, gutter and sump pump checks before the wettest stretch.
| Season | Average | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| January to March | 6.5 in | 16% |
| April to June | 15.2 in | 36% |
| July to September | 12.3 in | 29% |
| October to December | 7.9 in | 19% |
Modeled from Open-Meteo historical weather data. Precipitation includes rain and melted snow.
Lawrence home checklist from these records
- Don't rely on recent quiet years. Only 27% of Douglas County claims date from 2015 or later, so older floods still show what can happen.
- Insulate exposed pipes before 26-plus hard-freeze nights arrive, and know your main shutoff.
- Check roof flashing and drains before May, the wettest month in Lawrence.
- Keep dated photos of each room. After Midwest Flooding, 18 insured Douglas County owners filed claims at about the same time.
What to tell the Lawrence contractor
- Whether you rent or own
- Which side of the river you are on
- Whether a unit has been empty
Services Lawrence callers ask about
Questions
Lawrence water damage questions
My rental flooded over break. What first?
Tell the landlord immediately, photograph everything, and shut the water off if it is still running.
Is North Lawrence riskier?
It sits on lower ground, so check the flood map for your address.