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Lincoln County, Minnesota

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

Very Low overall risk
71st of 87highest risk in Minnesota
$7Mexpected losses a year
12federal declarations
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Lincoln County, Minnesota has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 82% of US counties. It ranks 71st of 87 counties in Minnesota. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and hail. FEMA estimates about $7.1 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,260 per resident. Since 1969 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2022 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 2 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

$3.5 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.
$903,745 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 13 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.

Hail

Moderate
$793,975 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 5 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low28.9
$4M
Cold waveLow48.0
$904K
HailModerate77.5
$794K
TornadoLow28.4
$474K
DroughtModerate66.9
$444K
Heat waveLow50.7
$400K
Strong windLow29.3
$298K
Winter weatherModerate70.3
$136K
Ice stormLow54.7
$109K
WildfireVery Low32.2
$17K
LightningVery Low1.9
$7K
EarthquakeVery Low5.6
$6K
LandslideVery Low43.9
$908

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 low and community resilience is relatively high 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 Storm7
Flood3
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jul 8, 2022Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 12, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 28, 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Oct 13, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 4, 2006Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Apr 8, 1997Severe Flooding, High Winds,Severe StormsMajor disaster
Jan 16, 1997Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 7, 1997Severe Ice StormMajor disaster
Jun 11, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 12
Jun 17, 1976DroughtEmergency
Apr 18, 1969FloodingMajor disaster

Minnesota also had 26 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 253 storm reports in Lincoln County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $45.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on April 19, 1955.

18tornadoes
112hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
90damaging thunderstorm winds
31floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 19, 1955F2–0 / 0
Jul 1, 2011EF2Tyler0 / 0
Jun 15, 1970F1–0 / 0
Jun 12, 2004F1Wilno0 / 0
Jun 13, 2001F1Verdi0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 1, 2019FloodVerdi$25M
Jun 22, 1997HailLake Benton$15M
Jul 27, 1995Thunderstorm WindTracy$1M
May 7, 1993Thunderstorm WindTyler$500K
Jul 25, 2000HailWilno$500K
Jul 13, 2023HailLake Benton$424K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Aug 5, 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%of homes have federal flood insurance (2 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$7,496paid on 3 flood claims since 1978
2010costliest year, with $7,496 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

$164,400median home value (Minnesota $329,300, US $332,700)
1959median year homes were built (Minnesota 1979, US 1980)
75%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
1.5%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; 3,045 housing units.

Compare in Minnesota

All 87 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Hennepin CountyHighInland flooding
Ramsey CountyHighInland flooding
Dakota CountyModerateInland flooding
Anoka CountyModerateInland flooding
Washington CountyModerateInland flooding
St. Louis CountyModerateCold wave
Olmsted CountyModerateInland flooding
Stearns CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Brookings County, SDLow19
Lyon CountyLow16
Yellow Medicine CountyVery Low22
Pipestone CountyVery Low12
Moody County, SDVery Low19
Deuel County, SDVery Low22

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 $3.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $903,745.

How many federal disasters has Lincoln County had?

Lincoln County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1969, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in July 2022.

Is Lincoln County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 71st highest of 87 in Minnesota. 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. 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 18 tornadoes in Lincoln County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on April 19, 1955. The weather service has also logged 112 hail reports and 31 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.