Lincoln County, WA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Lincoln County has experienced 17 federally declared disasters since 1977, most recently Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Lincoln County's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, landslide, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is relatively low (21st percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Lincoln County has been designated in 17 declarations since 1977, covering 7 disaster types including fire (5), flood (4), severe storm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Fire | Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Fire | Angel Springs Fire |
| 2017 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides |
| 2016 | Fire | Wildfires And Mudslides |
| 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2014 | Fire | Watermelon Hill Fire |
| 2009 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, And Flooding |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Record And Near Record Snow |
Showing the 10 most recent of 17 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 | Relatively Moderate | 96.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 50 | 5 | 0 | $801K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 63 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 40 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 7.6 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 60.6 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 23.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 20.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | 40.7 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 79.5 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 17.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 91.4 | 1 | 0 | $800K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 63.6 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 13.7 | — | — | — |
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 County ranks in the 21st percentile (Very low) 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 | 21st | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 15th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 61st | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 31st | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 21st | Very low |
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 | 93rd | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 92nd | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 56.6% | — |
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
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Lincoln County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Lincoln County, Washington are wildfire, landslide, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Lincoln County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Lincoln County has received 17 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is fire (5 declarations).
Has Lincoln County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Lincoln County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds in 2021.
How does Lincoln County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Spokane County, WA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Adams County, WA has the lowest (Very Low). Lincoln County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Lincoln County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Lincoln County'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 County's composite score of 55 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 55% of US counties.