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Lincoln County, Nebraska

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

Relatively Low overall risk
17th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$17Mexpected losses a year
18federal declarations
1 in 143homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Lincoln County, Nebraska has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 51% of US counties. It ranks 17th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hail and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $17 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $487 per resident. Since 1994 it has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (wildfires). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (122 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $254,000 on 78 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Lincoln County

$6.8 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.

Hail

High
$2.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$2.1 million 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 floodingLow48.5
$7M
HailHigh94.3
$3M
TornadoLow62.8
$2M
Cold waveLow64.9
$2M
DroughtModerate80.8
$1M
Strong windLow51.2
$621K
Winter weatherHigh90.2
$447K
Heat waveLow51.0
$422K
WildfireLow74.6
$275K
LightningLow45.0
$211K
EarthquakeVery Low31.8
$98K
Ice stormLow27.9
$31K
LandslideVery Low40.1
$713

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 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

Severe Storm11
Flood3
Fire2
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026WildfiresMajor disaster
Mar 13, 2026Morrill-Cottonwood FireFire management
Sep 24, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 20, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 21, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 25, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 12, 2011FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 18, 2011FloodingEmergency
Jul 15, 2010Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 31, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Show all 18
Jun 20, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 24, 2007Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 26, 2006Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
May 16, 2001Severe Winter Storms, Flooding and TornadoesMajor disaster
Nov 1, 1997Severe Snow Storms, Rain, and Strong WindsMajor disaster
May 9, 1994Severe Snow and Ice StormMajor disaster

Nebraska also had 14 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 1,875 storm reports in Lincoln County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 20 injuries and about $76.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on October 29, 1956.

106tornadoes
1,119hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
577damaging thunderstorm winds
59floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Oct 29, 1956F4–2 / 0
Jun 25, 1989F3–2 / 0
May 17, 2000F3Brady2 / 0
Mar 18, 2012EF3North Platte2 / 0
Mar 18, 2012EF3North Platte2 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 14, 2012HailNorth Platte$30M
Jul 20, 2003HailNorth Platte$7M
May 30, 2012HailWellfleet$5M
Apr 14, 2012HailNorth Platte$4M
Jun 25, 1997HailWallace$3M
Jun 25, 1997HailWellfleet$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 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 ›
0.7%of homes have federal flood insurance (122 policies)
9.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$254,234paid on 78 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $153,845 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

$189,500median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1970median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
69%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.3%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; 16,624 housing units.

Compare in Nebraska

All 93 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Douglas CountyHighInland flooding
Lancaster CountyModerateTornado
Sarpy CountyModerateTornado
Hall CountyLowInland flooding
Buffalo CountyLowHail
Dodge CountyLowInland flooding
Scotts Bluff CountyLowHail
Madison CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Dawson CountyLow13
Custer CountyVery Low18
Keith CountyVery Low7
Perkins CountyVery Low8
Frontier CountyVery Low14
Hayes CountyVery Low17
Logan CountyVery Low12
McPherson CountyVery Low8

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 $6.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $2.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Lincoln County had?

Lincoln County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1994, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Wildfires in June 2026.

Is Lincoln County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 17th highest of 93 in Nebraska. 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 143 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 106 tornadoes in Lincoln County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on October 29, 1956. The weather service has also logged 1,119 hail reports and 59 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.