Lincoln Parish, LA

FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data

Population: 48,370 · Cities: Ruston

Relatively Low Riskier than 64% of US counties
Very Low Relatively Low Relatively Moderate Relatively High Very High

Lincoln Parish has experienced 35 federally declared disasters since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.

Lincoln Parish's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, strong wind, and heat wave, with its top risk rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 33% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (78th percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.

Past disasters & FEMA designations

A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Lincoln Parish has been designated in 35 declarations since 1977, covering 9 disaster types including hurricane (16), severe storm (4), severe ice storm (3).

2002–2026
Year Type Event name
2026 Winter Storm Severe Winter Storm
2026 Winter Storm Severe Winter Storm
2024 Hurricane Tropical Storm Francine
2021 Hurricane Tropical Storm Zeta
2021 Coastal Storm Tropical Storm Nicholas
2021 Hurricane Tropical Storm Ida
2021 Severe Ice Storm Severe Winter Storms
2021 Severe Ice Storm Severe Winter Storm
2021 Hurricane Hurricane Ida
2021 Hurricane Hurricane Delta

Showing the 10 most recent of 35 total declarations since 1977.

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.

Risk by hazard type

Hazard Risk rating Risk score Recorded events Deaths Prop. damage
Wildfire Very Low 29.7 0 0
Inland Flooding Relatively Low 54.3 9 0 $10.0M
Coastal Flooding Not Applicable 0 0
Earthquake Relatively Low 68.2
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate 89.3 78 0
Tornado Relatively Moderate 86.9 6 2 $51.5M
Hurricane Relatively Low 67 0 0
Hail Relatively Low 57.7 19 0
Strong Wind Relatively High 94.7 0 0
Winter Weather Relatively Low 25.1 0 0
Ice Storm Very High 97.6
Cold Wave Very Low 14.8
Lightning Relatively Moderate 59.9 0 0
Drought Relatively Low 45 0 0
Landslide Very Low 57.1 0 0
Avalanche Not Applicable
Tsunami Not Applicable
Volcanic Activity Not Applicable

Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.

Community vulnerability

Lincoln Parish ranks in the 78th percentile (High) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.

SVI theme Percentile Vulnerability level
Overall 78th High
Socioeconomic status 75th High
Household characteristics 17th Very low
Racial & ethnic minority status 85th High
Housing type & transportation 95th High

Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.

Future risk outlook

Wildfire metric National percentile Level
Burn probability 34th Relatively Low
Risk to homes 33rd Relatively Low
Buildings in direct exposure zone 64.6%

NOAA tracked 112 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 48 in 2016–20 vs 64 in 2021–25 (+33% — frequency increasing).

Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.

Nearby counties

Compare Lincoln Parish with other counties → All Louisiana counties →

Frequently asked questions

What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Lincoln Parish?

According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Lincoln Parish, Louisiana are ice storm, strong wind, and heat wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.

Has Lincoln Parish received federal disaster declarations?

Yes. Lincoln Parish has received 35 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is hurricane (16 declarations).

Has Lincoln Parish had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?

Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Lincoln Parish include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Winter Storm (2026), Tropical Storm Francine (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1977.

How does Lincoln Parish's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?

Among neighboring counties, Ouachita Parish, LA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Jackson Parish, LA has the lowest (Very Low). Lincoln Parish is rated Relatively Low overall.

How is Lincoln Parish's composite disaster risk index calculated?

Lincoln Parish's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Lincoln Parish's composite score of 64 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 64% of US counties.

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