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Lincoln County, Kansas

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

Very Low overall risk
78th of 105highest risk in Kansas
$5Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Lincoln County, Kansas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 86% of US counties. It ranks 78th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hail and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $5.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,732 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes 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

$1.7 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.

Hail

Moderate
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 9 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$664,343 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low15.6
$2M
HailModerate88.3
$1M
TornadoLow36.3
$664K
Ice stormHigh84.5
$525K
Strong windLow34.3
$309K
DroughtLow55.1
$188K
Heat waveVery Low26.5
$98K
WildfireVery Low59.3
$72K
Cold waveVery Low10.0
$67K
Winter weatherLow46.5
$52K
LightningVery Low7.0
$20K
EarthquakeVery Low10.5
$9K
LandslideVery Low12.3
$36

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 relatively moderate 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 Storm10
Flood2
Hurricane1
Fire1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 21, 2025Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and WildfiresMajor disaster
Aug 20, 2024Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2022Severe Storms and Straight Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2019Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 6, 2017Ellsworth-Lincoln-Russell Fire ComplexFire management
Jul 29, 2011Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 1, 2008Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
May 6, 2007Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 14
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jul 22, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 28, 1973Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
May 2, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Kansas also had 10 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1956

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 639 storm reports in Lincoln County since 1956, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $29.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on October 29, 1956.

33tornadoes
327hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
239damaging thunderstorm winds
29floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 29, 1956F3–2 / 0
Jul 15, 1956F3–0 / 0
May 8, 1970F2–0 / 0
Apr 24, 2015EF1Sylvan Grove0 / 0
May 5, 2007EF1Westfall0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 8, 1998HailAsh Grove$25M
Sep 10, 2003Flash FloodNorth Portion$784K
Sep 3, 2009HailBeverly$625K
Dec 25, 2016Thunderstorm WindBeverly$500K
Sep 3, 2009HailWestfall$275K
Oct 29, 1956Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 30, 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 ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (4 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$4,570paid on 2 flood claims since 1978
2025costliest year, with $3,295 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

$96,900median home value (Kansas $217,200, US $332,700)
1938median year homes were built (Kansas 1976, US 1980)
86%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.1%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; 1,668 housing units.

Compare in Kansas

All 105 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Johnson CountyHighInland flooding
Sedgwick CountyHighInland flooding
Shawnee CountyModerateInland flooding
Wyandotte CountyModerateInland flooding
Douglas CountyLowInland flooding
Leavenworth CountyLowInland flooding
Riley CountyLowInland flooding
Butler CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Saline CountyLow17
Russell CountyVery Low21
Ellsworth CountyVery Low17
Mitchell CountyVery Low12
Ottawa CountyVery Low16
Osborne CountyVery Low17

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 $1.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $1.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Lincoln County had?

Lincoln County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.

Is Lincoln County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 78th highest of 105 in Kansas. 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 1000 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 33 tornadoes in Lincoln County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on October 29, 1956. The weather service has also logged 327 hail reports and 29 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.