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Lincoln County, Wyoming

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

Relatively Low overall risk
8th of 23highest risk in Wyoming
$18Mexpected losses a year
3federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: Richard Allaway, CC BY 2.0

Lincoln County, Wyoming has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 52% of US counties. It ranks 8th of 23 counties in Wyoming. The costliest hazards here are avalanches, inland flooding and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $18 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $919 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (1 major disaster). The most recent was in July 2011 (severe storms, flooding and landslides). Only 32 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $66,000 on 11 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

Avalanche

Very High
$7.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
  • Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.
$4.4 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.
$4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 40 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
AvalancheVery High98.7
$8M
Inland floodingLow35.5
$4M
EarthquakeLow87.8
$4M
WildfireLow83.6
$644K
LightningModerate71.8
$562K
Winter weatherHigh87.6
$359K
Cold waveVery Low15.4
$167K
LandslideModerate95.2
$144K
TornadoVery Low12.9
$113K
Strong windVery Low10.9
$86K
HailVery Low12.1
$42K
Ice stormVery Low12.1
$7K
DroughtVery Low21.6
$6K
Volcanic activityVery Low41.7
$7
Heat waveVery Low2.1
$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 low 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

Drought1
Fire1
Severe Storm1

Most recent

Jul 22, 2011Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Aug 31, 2002Wy - Commissary Ridge Fire - 08/31/02Fire management
Jun 15, 1977DroughtEmergency

Wyoming also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1969

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 104 storm reports in Lincoln County since 1969, with 0 deaths and 31 injuries and about $2.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on July 10, 2001 near Opal.

6tornadoes
34hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
38damaging thunderstorm winds
19floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Jul 10, 2001F1Opal0 / 0
Jun 10, 1969F0–0 / 0
May 2, 1991F0–0 / 0
Sep 9, 1991F0–0 / 0
Jun 14, 1997F0La Barge0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 12, 2013Flash FloodLa Barge$2M
Jun 6, 2010Thunderstorm WindTurnerville$350K
Aug 15, 2011HailAuburn$250K
May 15, 2011FloodFairview$200K
Jun 25, 2011FloodStar Valley Ranch$167K
Aug 12, 2024Flash FloodOpal$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 27, 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 ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (32 policies)
4.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$65,568paid on 11 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $35,739 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

$372,600median home value (Wyoming $309,700, US $332,700)
1988median year homes were built (Wyoming 1981, US 1980)
37%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12.1%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; 9,964 housing units.

Compare in Wyoming

All 23 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Laramie CountyLowInland flooding
Natrona CountyLowInland flooding
Campbell CountyLowCold wave
Sweetwater CountyVery LowInland flooding
Fremont CountyLowInland flooding
Albany CountyLowInland flooding
Sheridan CountyLowInland flooding
Park CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Bonneville County, IDModerate5
Sweetwater CountyVery Low2
Teton CountyLow3
Uinta CountyVery Low3
Sublette CountyVery Low2
Caribou County, IDVery Low3
Bear Lake County, IDVery Low2
Rich County, UTVery Low3

Common questions about Lincoln County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Lincoln County?

Avalanche has the highest expected yearly losses in Lincoln County, about $7.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $4.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Lincoln County had?

Lincoln County has been included in 3 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 1 major disaster. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides in July 2011.

Is Lincoln County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 8th highest of 23 in Wyoming. 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 333 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 6 tornadoes in Lincoln County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on July 10, 2001 near Opal. The weather service has also logged 34 hail reports and 19 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.