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Lincoln County, Idaho

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

Very Low overall risk
36th of 44highest risk in Idaho
$4Mexpected losses a year
5federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Lincoln County, Idaho has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 91% of US counties. It ranks 36th of 44 counties in Idaho. The costliest hazards here are wildfires, inland flooding and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $4.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $788 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (3 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2017 (severe winter storms and flooding). Only 4 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

Wildfire

Moderate
$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 75 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 years.
  • 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.
$276,926 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
WildfireModerate92.0
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low14.4
$2M
Cold waveLow24.2
$277K
Heat waveLow40.2
$208K
EarthquakeVery Low32.2
$83K
Strong windVery Low10.4
$68K
Winter weatherLow51.6
$61K
LightningVery Low12.7
$39K
TornadoVery Low3.9
$11K
HailVery Low4.0
$8K
Ice stormVery Low12.4
$6K
DroughtVery Low18.6
$3K
LandslideVery Low9.4
$22
Volcanic activityVery Low56.4
$19

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 relatively moderate 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

Flood2
Drought1
Fire1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Apr 21, 2017Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency
Sep 1, 2000WildfiresMajor disaster
May 5, 1977DroughtEmergency
Dec 31, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

Idaho also had 16 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 77 storm reports in Lincoln County since 1956 and about $6.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on July 21, 1987.

4tornadoes
12hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
49damaging thunderstorm winds
4floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 21, 1987F1–0 / 0
Oct 4, 2006F0Shoshone0 / 0
Oct 4, 2006F0Shoshone0 / 0
Oct 4, 2006F0Richfield0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Aug 1, 2014Heavy RainBurmah$3M
Feb 5, 2017FloodShoshone$2M
Aug 10, 2000WildfireDietrich$1M
Mar 1, 2017FloodShoshone$277K
Jan 21, 2012FloodShoshone$38K
Jul 21, 1987Tornado–$25K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Dec 17, 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.

Flood insurance in Lincoln County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (4 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$35,511paid on 5 flood claims since 1978
1996costliest year, with $29,904 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

$255,600median home value (Idaho $418,600, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Idaho 1991, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
18.3%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; 1,989 housing units.

Compare in Idaho

All 44 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Ada CountyModerateInland flooding
Canyon CountyLowInland flooding
Kootenai CountyLowInland flooding
Bonneville CountyModerateInland flooding
Twin Falls CountyLowInland flooding
Bannock CountyLowWildfire
Madison CountyLowInland flooding
Bingham CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Blaine CountyLow8
Jerome CountyVery Low4
Minidoka CountyVery Low3
Gooding CountyVery Low5
Camas CountyVery Low6

Common questions about Lincoln County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Lincoln County?

Wildfire has the highest expected yearly losses in Lincoln County, about $1.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Lincoln County had?

Lincoln County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 3 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms and Flooding in April 2017.

Is Lincoln County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 36th highest of 44 in Idaho. 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 4 tornadoes in Lincoln County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on July 21, 1987. The weather service has also logged 12 hail reports and 4 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.