Lincoln County, Colorado
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Lincoln County, Colorado has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 92% of US counties. It ranks 53rd of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hail and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $4.6 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $808 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2023 (severe storms, flooding and tornadoes). Only 5 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Lincoln County
- 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.
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 14.8 | $2M | ||
| Hail | 67.0 | $573K | ||
| Cold wave | 30.5 | $503K | ||
| Tornado | 25.1 | $427K | ||
| Drought | 63.5 | $408K | ||
| Strong wind | 29.0 | $330K | ||
| Wildfire | 58.4 | $89K | ||
| Lightning | 17.0 | $67K | ||
| Winter weather | 45.3 | $64K | ||
| Earthquake | 18.6 | $29K | ||
| Heat wave | 5.7 | $8K | ||
| Ice storm | 9.6 | $6K | ||
| Landslide | 4.3 | $7 |
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 low and community resilience is relatively 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
Most recent
Colorado also had 15 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1951
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 878 storm reports in Lincoln County since 1951, with 0 deaths and 19 injuries and about $30.4 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on June 6, 1990.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 6, 1990 | F3 | – | 14 / 0 |
| May 31, 1999 | F3 | Genoa | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 6, 1951 | F2 | – | 1 / 0 |
| May 23, 1965 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 18, 1977 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 6, 1990 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| May 31, 1999 | Tornado | Genoa | $4M |
| Jul 16, 2014 | Flash Flood | Karval | $300K |
| May 2, 1991 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| Aug 17, 2015 | Tornado | Genoa | $200K |
| Jul 29, 2009 | Flash Flood | Lake | $100K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 22, 2026. 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.
Flood insurance in Lincoln County
Check your address flood zone ›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
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; 2,382 housing units.
Compare in Colorado
All 64 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| El Paso County | Inland flooding | |
| Denver County | Inland flooding | |
| Arapahoe County | Hail | |
| Jefferson County | Inland flooding | |
| Adams County | Hail | |
| Larimer County | Inland flooding | |
| Douglas County | Inland flooding | |
| Boulder County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| El Paso County | 18 | |
| Arapahoe County | 10 | |
| Pueblo County | 18 | |
| Elbert County | 11 | |
| Kit Carson County | 5 | |
| Crowley County | 10 | |
| Washington County | 11 | |
| Cheyenne County | 7 |
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 $2.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $573,304.
How many federal disasters has Lincoln County had?
Lincoln County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes in August 2023.
Is Lincoln County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 53rd highest of 64 in Colorado. 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 500 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 115 tornadoes in Lincoln County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on June 6, 1990. The weather service has also logged 579 hail reports and 20 floods here.
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.