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Lincoln County, Washington

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

Relatively Low overall risk
29th of 39highest risk in Washington
$14Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Lincoln County, Washington has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 55% of US counties. It ranks 29th of 39 counties in Washington. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, wildfires and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $14 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,252 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (wildfires and straight-line winds). Only 33 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $39,000 on 12 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

$5 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.

Wildfire

Moderate
$4.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 145 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.

Cold wave

Moderate
$2.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow50.0
$5M
WildfireModerate96.7
$5M
Cold waveModerate79.5
$3M
EarthquakeLow63.0
$403K
HailLow60.6
$290K
Heat waveLow40.0
$172K
Strong windLow23.8
$165K
LandslideModerate91.4
$50K
Ice stormLow40.7
$41K
TornadoVery Low7.6
$30K
LightningVery Low8.0
$19K
Winter weatherVery Low20.8
$14K
DroughtVery Low17.8
$2K
AvalancheVery Low63.6
$2K
Volcanic activityVery Low13.7
$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 relatively 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

Fire5
Flood4
Severe Storm3
Drought1
Volcanic Eruption1
Coastal Storm1

Most recent

Feb 4, 2021Wildfires and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Aug 4, 2018Angel Springs FireFire management
Apr 21, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, MudslidesMajor disaster
Jan 15, 2016Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Oct 20, 2015Wildfires and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jul 19, 2014Watermelon Hill FireFire management
Mar 2, 2009Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record SnowMajor disaster
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Apr 2, 1997Heavy Rains, Snow Melt, Flooding, Land & Mud SlidesMajor disaster
Show all 15
Jan 17, 1997Severe Winter Storms, Land & Muds Slides,FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 9, 1996High Winds, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 13, 1991FiresMajor disaster
May 21, 1980Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. HelensMajor disaster
Mar 31, 1977DroughtEmergency

Washington also had 51 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 74 storm reports in Lincoln County since 1955, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $29.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on April 5, 1972.

12tornadoes
11hail reports, largest 2 inches
27damaging thunderstorm winds
15floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 5, 1972F3–1 / 0
May 31, 1997F1Wilbur0 / 0
May 6, 2009EF1Davenport0 / 0
May 6, 1957F0–0 / 0
Jun 6, 2009EF0Creston0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 4, 2006HailHarrington$26M
Mar 12, 2017FloodWells$800K
Apr 2, 2017Debris FlowMiles$800K
Feb 12, 2014FloodCrescent$600K
May 31, 1997TornadoWilbur$300K
Apr 5, 1972Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Feb 23, 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 ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (33 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$38,768paid on 12 flood claims since 1978
1997costliest year, with $32,952 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

$292,800median home value (Washington $564,600, US $332,700)
1972median year homes were built (Washington 1985, US 1980)
63%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
14.2%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; 5,918 housing units.

Compare in Washington

All 39 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
King CountyVery HighEarthquake
Pierce CountyHighEarthquake
Snohomish CountyHighEarthquake
Spokane CountyModerateInland flooding
Clark CountyModerateInland flooding
Thurston CountyHighEarthquake
Kitsap CountyModerateEarthquake
Yakima CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Spokane CountyModerate31
Grant CountyLow10
Whitman CountyVery Low16
Stevens CountyLow21
Okanogan CountyModerate40
Adams CountyVery Low8
Ferry CountyLow22

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 $5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Wildfire is second at $4.8 million.

How many federal disasters has Lincoln County had?

Lincoln County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Wildfires and Straight-Line Winds in February 2021.

Is Lincoln County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 29th highest of 39 in Washington. 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 250 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 12 tornadoes in Lincoln County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on April 5, 1972. The weather service has also logged 11 hail reports and 15 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.