Lincoln County, Wyoming
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- Check avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
- Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.
- 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.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avalanche | 98.7 | $8M | ||
| Inland flooding | 35.5 | $4M | ||
| Earthquake | 87.8 | $4M | ||
| Wildfire | 83.6 | $644K | ||
| Lightning | 71.8 | $562K | ||
| Winter weather | 87.6 | $359K | ||
| Cold wave | 15.4 | $167K | ||
| Landslide | 95.2 | $144K | ||
| Tornado | 12.9 | $113K | ||
| Strong wind | 10.9 | $86K | ||
| Hail | 12.1 | $42K | ||
| Ice storm | 12.1 | $7K | ||
| Drought | 21.6 | $6K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 41.7 | $7 | ||
| Heat wave | 2.1 | $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
Most recent
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 10, 2001 | F1 | Opal | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 10, 1969 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 2, 1991 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 9, 1991 | F0 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 14, 1997 | F0 | La Barge | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2013 | Flash Flood | La Barge | $2M |
| Jun 6, 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Turnerville | $350K |
| Aug 15, 2011 | Hail | Auburn | $250K |
| May 15, 2011 | Flood | Fairview | $200K |
| Jun 25, 2011 | Flood | Star Valley Ranch | $167K |
| Aug 12, 2024 | Flash Flood | Opal | $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 ›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
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 counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Laramie County | Inland flooding | |
| Natrona County | Inland flooding | |
| Campbell County | Cold wave | |
| Sweetwater County | Inland flooding | |
| Fremont County | Inland flooding | |
| Albany County | Inland flooding | |
| Sheridan County | Inland flooding | |
| Park County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Bonneville County, ID | 5 | |
| Sweetwater County | 2 | |
| Teton County | 3 | |
| Uinta County | 3 | |
| Sublette County | 2 | |
| Caribou County, ID | 3 | |
| Bear Lake County, ID | 2 | |
| Rich County, UT | 3 |
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.