Lincoln County, Missouri
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Lincoln County, Missouri has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 67% of US counties. It ranks 32nd of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, heat waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $32 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $533 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (21 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2021 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (167 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $37 million on 2,253 claims here, including $12 million for floods in 1993.
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.
- Check that cooling works before summer.
- Know where the nearest cooling center is.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 70.3 | $16M | ||
| Heat wave | 92.6 | $5M | ||
| Tornado | 72.9 | $3M | ||
| Cold wave | 70.1 | $3M | ||
| Earthquake | 77.8 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 79.9 | $2M | ||
| Hail | 77.6 | $937K | ||
| Lightning | 61.9 | $434K | ||
| Drought | 43.3 | $108K | ||
| Wildfire | 59.3 | $96K | ||
| Winter weather | 55.9 | $96K | ||
| Ice storm | 30.5 | $40K | ||
| Landslide | 82.4 | $27K | ||
| Hurricane | 12.7 | $4K |
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 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
Most recent
Show all 27
Missouri also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1953
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 394 storm reports in Lincoln County since 1953, with 0 deaths and 9 injuries and about $18.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 13, 2006 near Olney.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 2006 | F3 | Olney | 6 / 0 |
| Apr 29, 1984 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 10, 1969 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 11, 1999 | F1 | Whiteside | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 14, 1953 | F1 | – | 1 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2, 2019 | Flash Flood | Winfield | $5M |
| Jul 20, 2025 | Flash Flood | Apex | $5M |
| Mar 13, 2006 | Tornado | Olney | $3M |
| May 4, 2019 | Flood | Winfield | $2M |
| Jun 4, 2008 | Flood | Dameron | $2M |
| Jun 27, 2008 | Flash Flood | Cap Au Gris | $500K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 3, 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; 23,790 housing units.
Compare in Missouri
All 115 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis County | Heat wave | |
| Jackson County | Inland flooding | |
| St. Charles County | Inland flooding | |
| St. Louis City | Heat wave | |
| Greene County | Inland flooding | |
| Clay County | Inland flooding | |
| Jefferson County | Inland flooding | |
| Boone County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| St. Charles County | 26 | |
| Warren County | 15 | |
| Pike County | 24 | |
| Montgomery County | 24 | |
| Calhoun County, IL | 23 |
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 $15.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Heat wave is second at $4.8 million.
How many federal disasters has Lincoln County had?
Lincoln County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 21 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2021.
Is Lincoln County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 32nd highest of 115 in Missouri. 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 167 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 24 tornadoes in Lincoln County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 13, 2006 near Olney. The weather service has also logged 123 hail reports and 51 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.