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Lincoln County, Arkansas

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
66th of 75highest risk in Arkansas
$7Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 77homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Lincoln County, Arkansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 70% of US counties. It ranks 66th of 75 counties in Arkansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $6.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $526 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 42 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $701,000 on 29 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Lincoln County

$2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
$1.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 8 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 280 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low24.4
$2M
DroughtHigh90.8
$1M
EarthquakeLow79.5
$1M
TornadoLow53.6
$984K
Heat waveLow65.7
$528K
Strong windLow43.7
$322K
HailLow45.8
$156K
Ice stormModerate68.1
$140K
Cold waveVery Low18.0
$134K
HurricaneVery Low57.7
$111K
LightningVery Low23.7
$58K
Winter weatherVery Low22.6
$14K
WildfireVery Low16.7
$4K
LandslideVery Low16.7
$54

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very high and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Lincoln County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm9
Flood4
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2
Winter Storm2
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Apr 5, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Apr 4, 2023Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Aug 27, 2020Hurricane LauraEmergency
Jul 10, 2020Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 8, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
May 30, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingEmergency
May 6, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 4, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 22
Dec 3, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 16, 2009Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 18, 2008Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Hurricane GustavMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 24, 2002Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 13, 2001Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormEmergency
Apr 14, 1997Flooding, Severe StormsMajor disaster
Mar 2, 1997Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 28, 1994Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Apr 27, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Arkansas also had 8 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1957

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 243 storm reports in Lincoln County since 1957, with 5 deaths and 24 injuries and about $7.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1968.

21tornadoes
74hail reports, largest 4 inches
106damaging thunderstorm winds
39floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1968F4–16 / 5
Dec 3, 1978F2–0 / 0
May 16, 1981F2–5 / 0
Feb 24, 2007EF2Garrett Bridge0 / 0
Nov 26, 2001F2Cornerville0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 1, 2011FloodGrady$2M
Apr 26, 2011FloodGrady$750K
Apr 10, 2013TornadoWarrenton$500K
Oct 29, 2009Flash FloodGriffith Spgs$350K
Oct 30, 2009Flash FloodGriffith Spgs$300K
Apr 3, 1968Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 20, 2025. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1879, 0 hurricanes and 9 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Lincoln County, 3 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1909, with top winds near 65 mph about 54 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
9tropical storms
2020most recent: Laura

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph54 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph54 mi
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 50 mph60 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi
Aug 23, 1879UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph63 mi
Jul 7, 1891UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 27, 2020LauraTropical storm, 50 mph60 mi
Sep 10, 1965BetsyTropical storm, 40 mph61 mi
Jun 28, 1957AudreyTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi
Sep 24, 1941UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi
Oct 16, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 55 mph54 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedTropical storm, 65 mph54 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Lincoln County

Check your address flood zone ›
1.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (42 policies)
8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$700,965paid on 29 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $310,939 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Lincoln County

$108,000median home value (Arkansas $188,000, US $332,700)
1984median year homes were built (Arkansas 1987, US 1980)
44%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
29%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 4,390 housing units.

Compare in Arkansas

All 75 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Pulaski CountyHighInland flooding
Benton CountyModerateInland flooding
Washington CountyModerateHeat wave
Sebastian CountyModerateInland flooding
Faulkner CountyModerateTornado
Saline CountyLowInland flooding
Craighead CountyModerateEarthquake
Garland CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Jefferson CountyModerate23
Drew CountyVery Low18
Arkansas CountyLow18
Desha CountyVery Low19
Cleveland CountyVery Low19

Common questions about Lincoln County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Lincoln County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Lincoln County, about $2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $1.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Lincoln County had?

Lincoln County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Lincoln County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 66th highest of 75 in Arkansas. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Lincoln County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 77 homes in Lincoln County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Lincoln County had?

NOAA records list 21 tornadoes in Lincoln County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1968. The weather service has also logged 74 hail reports and 39 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Lincoln County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 9 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Lincoln County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1909, with winds near 65 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.