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Lincoln County, Nevada

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

Very Low overall risk
10th of 17highest risk in Nevada
$5Mexpected losses a year
6federal declarations
1 in 45homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Lincoln County, Nevada has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 74% of US counties. It ranks 10th of 17 counties in Nevada. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $4.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,090 per resident. Since 2002 it has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (2 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2023 (severe winter storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 45 homes here carry federal flood insurance (63 policies).

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

Top risks in Lincoln County

$2.6 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$968,873 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 260 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$943,678 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 50 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow39.0
$3M
WildfireModerate91.6
$969K
EarthquakeLow80.2
$944K
DroughtLow62.7
$186K
Heat waveVery Low25.1
$55K
LightningVery Low22.3
$43K
Winter weatherLow28.2
$15K
Cold waveVery Low5.2
$10K
Strong windVery Low3.1
$9K
LandslideLow73.6
$5K
HailVery Low2.3
$2K
AvalancheVery Low59.6
$761
TornadoVery Low1.1
$145
Volcanic activityVery Low10.7
$0

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 high and community resilience is very 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

Snowstorm2
Fire1
Severe Storm1
Hurricane1
Flood1

Most recent

Apr 27, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Mar 7, 2005Heavy Rains and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 23, 2005SnowEmergency
Feb 17, 2005Record And/Or Near Record SnowEmergency
Jun 9, 2002Nv Wildfire (Pioche) 06-08-2002Fire management

Nevada also had 23 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1964

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 138 storm reports in Lincoln County since 1964 and about $2.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on August 31, 2000 near Hiko.

7tornadoes
13hail reports, largest 1.5 inches
31damaging thunderstorm winds
87floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Aug 31, 2000F1Hiko0 / 0
Aug 7, 1987F0–0 / 0
Oct 8, 1974F0–0 / 0
Oct 6, 1988F0–0 / 0
Sep 5, 1998F0Pioche0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Dec 21, 2010Flash FloodElgin$500K
Aug 7, 1987Tornado–$250K
Jul 15, 1996Flash FloodCaliente$250K
Jul 19, 2018Flash FloodPioche$150K
Aug 4, 1997Flash FloodUrsine$110K
Sep 8, 2014Flash FloodCaliente$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Sep 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 ›
2.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (63 policies)
14.6%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$13,000paid on 6 flood claims since 1978
2026costliest year, with $13,000 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

$219,500median home value (Nevada $435,400, US $332,700)
1982median year homes were built (Nevada 1996, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.8%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; 2,471 housing units.

Compare in Nevada

All 17 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Clark CountyVery HighInland flooding
Washoe CountyHighEarthquake
Lyon CountyLowEarthquake
Carson City CityLowEarthquake
Elko CountyModerateWildfire
Nye CountyLowInland flooding
Douglas CountyModerateEarthquake
Churchill CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Clark CountyVery High12
Mohave County, AZHigh13
Washington County, UTModerate12
Iron County, UTLow5
Nye CountyLow3
Millard County, UTVery Low9
White Pine CountyVery Low5
Beaver County, UTVery Low7

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 $2.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $968,873.

How many federal disasters has Lincoln County had?

Lincoln County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2002, including 2 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2023.

Is Lincoln County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 10th highest of 17 in Nevada. 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 45 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 7 tornadoes in Lincoln County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on August 31, 2000 near Hiko. The weather service has also logged 13 hail reports and 87 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.