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Lincoln County, Oregon

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
11th of 36highest risk in Oregon
$59Mexpected losses a year
21federal declarations
1 in 25homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Lincoln County, Oregon has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 90% of US counties. It ranks 11th of 36 counties in Oregon. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and tsunamis. FEMA estimates about $59 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,181 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides). About 1 in 25 homes here carry federal flood insurance (1,126 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $6.3 million on 462 claims here, including $3.1 million for floods in 1999.

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

Top risks in Lincoln County

Earthquake

Moderate
$30.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 55 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$20.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.

Tsunami

Moderate
$6.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 7 years.
  • Learn the tsunami evacuation route signs.
  • If you feel a strong quake near the coast, move to high ground right away.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeModerate97.8
$31M
Inland floodingModerate86.6
$20M
TsunamiModerate76.9
$6M
Coastal floodingModerate71.8
$901K
Ice stormHigh86.9
$498K
LandslideModerate97.5
$290K
Heat waveVery Low38.1
$147K
Cold waveVery Low14.0
$97K
Strong windVery Low14.8
$86K
LightningLow28.2
$72K
TornadoVery Low11.2
$56K
WildfireVery Low50.8
$36K
Winter weatherVery Low10.4
$6K
HailVery Low3.3
$5K
Volcanic activityVery Low83.7
$1K
AvalancheVery Low24.3
$40
DroughtVery Low12.7
$5

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 relatively moderate 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
Flood5
Fire3
Coastal Storm1
Tsunami1

Most recent

Apr 7, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 13, 2024Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2020Wildfires and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2020WildfiresEmergency
Sep 9, 2020Echo Mountain Fire ComplexFire management
Feb 17, 2016Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 4, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Mar 2, 2012Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 25, 2011Tsunami Wave SurgeMajor disaster
Feb 17, 2011Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Mudslides, Landslides, and Debris FlowsMajor disaster
Show all 21
Dec 8, 2007Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 22, 2007Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 29, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 20, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 19, 2004Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Mar 19, 1996Severe Storms and High WindsMajor disaster
Feb 9, 1996High Winds, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 25, 1974Severe Storms, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 21, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 24, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

Oregon also had 42 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1984

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 47 storm reports in Lincoln County since 1984, with 1 death and 1 injury and about $8.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on November 2, 1984.

4tornadoes
0hail reports
8damaging thunderstorm winds
22floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Nov 2, 1984F0–0 / 0
Nov 6, 2009EF0Neotsu0 / 0
Oct 31, 2024EF0Southbeach0 / 0
Oct 24, 1996F0Newport Arpt0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jan 18, 2012FloodDenzer Bridge$3M
Jan 18, 2012FloodSiletz$2M
Jan 15, 1996Thunderstorm WindLincoln City$2M
Dec 17, 2015Heavy RainLincoln City$1M
Nov 2, 1984Tornado–$250K
Dec 7, 2015FloodSiletz$128K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Oct 31, 2024. 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 ›
4%of homes have federal flood insurance (1,126 policies)
27.5%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$6.3 millionpaid on 462 flood claims since 1978
1999costliest year, with $3.1 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

$410,800median home value (Oregon $477,600, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (Oregon 1981, US 1980)
49%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
13%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; 32,628 housing units.

Compare in Oregon

All 36 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Multnomah CountyHighEarthquake
Washington CountyHighEarthquake
Clackamas CountyHighEarthquake
Lane CountyHighInland flooding
Marion CountyHighEarthquake
Jackson CountyModerateInland flooding
Deschutes CountyModerateInland flooding
Linn CountyModerateEarthquake

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Lane CountyHigh21
Benton CountyModerate13
Polk CountyLow13
Tillamook CountyModerate22

Common questions about Lincoln County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Lincoln County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Lincoln County, about $30.7 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $20.2 million.

How many federal disasters has Lincoln County had?

Lincoln County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in April 2026.

Is Lincoln County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 11th highest of 36 in Oregon. 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 25 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 4 tornadoes in Lincoln County since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on November 2, 1984. The weather service has also logged 0 hail reports and 22 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.