Lincoln County, West Virginia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · WV
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 60th
Lincoln County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 59.7, 60th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $15M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Lincoln County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 59.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 60th national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Lincoln County's expected losses come from landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $78K in expected annual loss and about 1.32 events per year; riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at Medium risk — $13M in expected annual loss and about 2.43 events per year; and heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Low risk — $764K in expected annual loss and about 4.37 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $15M in expected annual loss for a population of 20K.
Beyond physical exposure, Lincoln County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Lincoln County has received 39 federal disaster declarations since 1967, including 17 for severe storm events and 11 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 55 West Virginia counties, Lincoln County ranks #19 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 1.32 / yr | $78K |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 2.43 / yr | $13M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.37 / yr | $764K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $148K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.35 / yr | $65K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $43K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 8.95 / yr | $33K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $93K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $100 |
| Lightning | Low | 48.31 / yr | $85K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.68 / yr | $328K |
| Drought | Very Low | 3.25 / yr | $7K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 1.45 / yr | $158K |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.15 / yr | $57K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.05 / yr | $66K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Lincoln County has received 39 federal disaster declarations since 1967, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (17), Flood (11), Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| February 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| May 2024 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| May 2024 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| May 2021 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| May 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| April 2018 | Mud/Landslide | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| June 2016 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
Showing the 10 most recent of 39 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Lincoln County?
Lincoln County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 59.7 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 60th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Lincoln County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $78K EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $13M EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $764K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Lincoln County compare to other West Virginia counties?
Lincoln County ranks #19 of 55 West Virginia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Lincoln County had?
FEMA records 39 federal disaster declarations for Lincoln County since 1967, most often 17 for severe storm events and 11 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, declared in January 2026.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Lincoln County's $15M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.