riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Lincoln County Disaster Risk

Lincoln County, New Mexico

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

79th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#12

of 33 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

78th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 78% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively High

Higher than 99% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 10% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 26% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 15% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Lincoln County

Risk Verdict

Lincoln County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 79th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Lincoln County, scoring in the 99th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 78th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (26th), hurricane (15th), tornado (10th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Lincoln County residents should create defensible space around your property, sign up for local emergency alerts, and prepare a go-bag with essential documents and medications. Secondary risks such as flood also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Lincoln County is significantly riskier than the average county in New Mexico. Its composite risk score is 20.6 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Lincoln County, NM?
Lincoln County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 79th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Lincoln County?
Lincoln County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (99th percentile), flooding (78th percentile), earthquake (26th percentile), hurricane (15th percentile), tornado (10th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 99th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Lincoln County risk compare to the New Mexico average?
Lincoln County's composite risk percentile is 79th, compared to the New Mexico state average of 59th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Lincoln County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in New Mexico.
Is Lincoln County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Lincoln County's wildfire risk is at the 99th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Lincoln County is at the 78th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Why is Lincoln County higher risk than average?
Lincoln County's composite risk score of 79th percentile is above the New Mexico state average of 59th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (99th percentile), along with flooding risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Rio Arriba County

New Mexico

+1.0

Relatively Low

81th percentile

McKinley County

New Mexico

-1.2

Relatively Low

78th percentile

Sandoval County

New Mexico

-2.5

Relatively Low

77th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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