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Lincoln County, Missouri

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

Relatively Low overall risk
32nd of 115highest risk in Missouri
$32Mexpected losses a year
27federal declarations
1 in 167homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$15.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times 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.

Heat wave

Moderate
$4.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 12 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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 floodingLow70.3
$16M
Heat waveModerate92.6
$5M
TornadoModerate72.9
$3M
Cold waveModerate70.1
$3M
EarthquakeLow77.8
$2M
Strong windModerate79.9
$2M
HailModerate77.6
$937K
LightningModerate61.9
$434K
DroughtLow43.3
$108K
WildfireVery Low59.3
$96K
Winter weatherLow55.9
$96K
Ice stormLow30.5
$40K
LandslideLow82.4
$27K
HurricaneVery Low12.7
$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

Severe Storm15
Flood5
Severe Ice Storm4
Drought1
Tornado1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Sep 1, 2021Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 2019Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 21, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 2, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingEmergency
Aug 7, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 2013Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Nov 13, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and A TornadoMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 27
Mar 19, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 27, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jan 15, 2007Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 16, 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 6, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 2, 1995Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Hail, FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 1994Severe Storms, Tornadoes, FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
May 11, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 10, 1982Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 1979Tornadoes, Torrential Rain & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 24, 1976DroughtEmergency
Apr 19, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 14, 1965FloodingMajor disaster

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.

24tornadoes
123hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
193damaging thunderstorm winds
51floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 13, 2006F3Olney6 / 0
Apr 29, 1984F3–0 / 0
Oct 10, 1969F2–0 / 0
Feb 11, 1999F1Whiteside0 / 0
Mar 14, 1953F1–1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 2, 2019Flash FloodWinfield$5M
Jul 20, 2025Flash FloodApex$5M
Mar 13, 2006TornadoOlney$3M
May 4, 2019FloodWinfield$2M
Jun 4, 2008FloodDameron$2M
Jun 27, 2008Flash FloodCap 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 ›
0.6%of homes have federal flood insurance (167 policies)
11.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$37.1 millionpaid on 2,253 flood claims since 1978
1993costliest year, with $11.9 million 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

$244,300median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1997median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
26%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14%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; 23,790 housing units.

Compare in Missouri

All 115 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
St. Louis CountyHighHeat wave
Jackson CountyHighInland flooding
St. Charles CountyModerateInland flooding
St. Louis CityHighHeat wave
Greene CountyModerateInland flooding
Clay CountyModerateInland flooding
Jefferson CountyModerateInland flooding
Boone CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
St. Charles CountyModerate26
Warren CountyLow15
Pike CountyVery Low24
Montgomery CountyVery Low24
Calhoun County, ILVery Low23

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.