Hazard Plain Automated baseline

Lincoln County, CO

Risk-assessment baseline packet

County FIPS:
08073
Release:
2026-10
Data as of:
2026-09-30
Storm Events data through:
2026-06-30

Hazard Plain is an independent product built from public federal data. It is not a FEMA document and is not reviewed or endorsed by FEMA or any state agency.

Hazard Plain release 2026-10, as of 2026-09-30.

Summary

Plan status as of 2026-09-30: Expired on 2026-08-01. Plan: NE Colorado Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2021 (FEMA plan 107325), approved 2021-08-02.

Since the plan was approved on 2021-08-02: 1 new hazard declaration (1 incident) and 236 NOAA Storm Events records; details under "What changed since your last plan".

Highest expected annual loss (FEMA National Risk Index, modeled total; see B1-a): Inland Flooding ($2,083,556 a year), Hail ($573,304) and Cold Wave ($503,463).

The tables that follow are organized by the items of FEMA's Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool, Element B (B1-a to B2-c); each heading says which item its tables support.

Plan clock

Status:
Expired on 2026-08-01
Plan:
NE Colorado Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2021 (FEMA plan 107325)
Approved:
2021-08-02
Days since expiry:
60
Update underway:
none recorded in FEMA's plan tracker

Until a new plan is approved, FEMA mitigation project grants (HMGP, FMA) need a FEMA exception (44 CFR 201.6(a)(3)).

What changed since your last plan (approved 2021-08-02)

New federal declarations:
1 new hazard declaration (1 incident): DR-4731-CO (Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes)
Storm Events records since approval:
236 records (data through 2026-06-30)
Repetitive loss now:
FMA RL 0, SRL 0 (44 CFR 77.2); any definition: 0
Repeat-flood change:
this release sets the baseline count.

Sources: 1, 2, 4, 6 (numbered list at the end)

Plan status for every jurisdiction listed in this county

Source: 1

JurisdictionTypeStatusPlanApprovedExpiresDays to expirynegative = days since expiry
Lincoln CountyCountyExpired on 2026-08-01NE Colorado Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2021 (FEMA plan 107325)2021-08-022026-08-01-60
Hugo townTownExpired on 2026-08-01NE Colorado Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2021 (FEMA plan 107325)2021-08-022026-08-01-60

Plan 107325 lists 14 other participants, named in the Excel file.

State plan status and tribal plans in this state: see the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-a: hazard identification

Hazards NRI does not cover (local data needed)

  • dam failure (incl. upstream dams)
  • levee failure
  • flash flood as its own subtype
  • ice jams
  • debris flows
  • erosion (riverine and coastal)
  • land subsidence and sinkholes
  • expansive soils

The 18 National Risk Index hazards, ranked by expected annual loss (EAL)

Sources: 5, 6, 10

Rank by EALHazardNRI risk ratingEAL ratingEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL total (see note)modeled dollars per yearStorm Events records, 1996 to 2026-06-30countWhy this hazard can be left outNRI Not Applicable, no declaration and no Storm Events record since 1996Storm Events coverage note
1Inland FloodingVery LowVery Low$2,080,637$4$2,915$2,083,55620
2HailRelatively LowRelatively Low$267,237$301,414$4,653$573,304487
3Cold WaveRelatively LowRelatively Low$1,449$110,479$391,535$503,4639Includes 1 Frost/Freeze record (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition; counted in this table and in B1-d, not in the B1-e descriptor).
4TornadoVery LowRelatively Low$328,855$6,800$91,172$426,82766
5DroughtRelatively LowRelatively Moderaten/a$408,291n/a$408,2914
6Strong WindRelatively LowRelatively Low$71,285$3,798$254,615$329,698208Includes 76 High Wind and 1 Strong Wind records (NOAA non-thunderstorm wind types, outside NRI's Strong Wind definition).
7WildfireVery LowRelatively Low$84,622$44$4,047$88,7131
8LightningVery LowVery Low$1,444n/a$66,034$67,4783
9Winter WeatherRelatively LowRelatively Low$9,216under $1$54,536$63,75288
10EarthquakeVery LowVery Low$23,846n/a$5,124$28,970Storm Events does not record earthquakes.
11Heat WaveVery LowVery Low$2$893$7,381$8,2760No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
12Ice StormVery LowVery Low$3,576n/a$2,076$5,6520No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).
13LandslideVery LowVery Low$5n/a$2$70Declared 2 times; no Storm Events record of this type since 1996.
HurricaneNot ApplicableNot Applicable0NRI rates hurricane Not Applicable for this county, and no counted federal declaration for this county names it (EM-3224-CO names it but is not counted as a local occurrence; see B1-d).No recorded events in Storm Events since 1996 (data through 2026-06-30).

Total = buildings + agriculture + population equivalence; FEMA values each expected death (or 10 injuries) at $13.7 million (2024 dollars).

NRI risk rating combines expected annual loss with social vulnerability and community resilience; EAL rating rates expected annual loss alone. Both compare this county with all U.S. counties.

Local data needed: state and local landslide records (Storm Events records this hazard only in part).

Not applicable to this county per NRI, with no federal declaration and no Storm Events record since 1996: avalanche, coastal flooding, tsunami and volcanic activity. That is the evidence for leaving them out of the plan.

The state hazard mitigation plan also lists hazards for this county; FEMA asks the plan to explain any hazard it leaves out.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-b: hazard location

Affects the whole county (national data give no location within it): Cold Wave, Drought, Hail, Heat Wave, Ice Storm, Lightning, Strong Wind and Winter Weather.

Inland Flooding: The FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) is the required location source for flooding. See the FEMA Flood Map Service Center (https://msc.fema.gov) for this county.

Hazards that vary within the county: highest-rated census tracts

Source: 5

HazardHighest-rated census tractsNRI risk rating, score 0 to 100
Earthquaketract 9618 (Relatively Low, 41.3); tract 9617 (Very Low, 29.8)
Hurricaneno tract has a National Risk Index rating for this hazard
Landslidetract 9618 (Very Low, 58.7); tract 9617 (Very Low, 38.9)
Tornadotract 9618 (Relatively High, 83.3); tract 9617 (Relatively Moderate, 71.4)
Wildfiretract 9618 (Relatively Moderate, 94.6); tract 9617 (Relatively Low, 83.7)

Up to 3 census tracts per hazard, highest National Risk Index rating first, then highest score; a tract number is the Census tract number (for example 9618 is Census Tract 9618). FEMA's Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool maps the National Risk Index for every tract: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/resilience-analysis-and-planning-tool

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-c: hazard extent

Extent: scale, observed range and worst recorded event per hazard

Sources: 6, 7, 11

HazardScaleRecordscount and yearsObserved rangeWorst recorded eventMost damaging (when different)How it applies to jurisdictionsNote
Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chillwind chill8 records, 1996 to 2026 (8 zone-level)2 days to 4 days (median 3 days); 7 with a recorded value4 consecutive days, 2026-01-23 to 2026-01-26, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).
Frost/Freeze (outside NRI's Cold Wave definition)crop damage1 record, 2014 (1 zone-level)No crop damage reported in 1 record.Countywide (zone-level records).
DroughtU.S. Drought Monitor scale (D0 to D4)4 records, 2002 to 2021 (4 zone-level)30 days to 61 days (median 31 days); 3 with a recorded value61 days (2 months), 2021-11-01 to 2021-12-31, a run of 2 consecutive Storm Events drought records, zone-levelCountywide (zone-level records).Storm Events enters a drought at D2 or worse east of the Rockies and D3 or worse from the Rockies west (NWS Instruction 10-1605); NRI drought counts D3 and D4 only.
EarthquakeModified Mercalli (local data)0Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hailhail size (inches)579 records, 1955 to 20260.75 in to 4 in (median 1 in); 579 with a recorded value4 in hail, 2025-08-09; same size also recorded on 2023-07-06Hail, 1993-09-07, $5,000 property (pre-1996 NOAA value, recorded in damage ranges); $50,000 crops (1993 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Hugo town (70 records).
Excessive Heat, Heatheat index (in event narratives)0
Hurricane, Tropical Storm, Tropical DepressionSaffir-Simpson0Storm Events files every zone of a storm's episode under the storm's type; flooding from the storm is filed as Flood or Flash Flood records.
Ice StormSperry-Piltz ice scale (local data)0
Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flooddamage and flood days (flood depth: FIRM)20 records, 1998 to 2024Flash Flood, 2014-07-16, $250,000 property; $50,000 crops (2014 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Hugo town (3 records).Flood depth: see the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. Storm Events damage is often $0 or blank for floods, major ones included; FEMA Public Assistance by declaration (B1-d) shows which floods cost the most.
Debris Flownone (count and damage only)0
Lightningannualized frequency (the measure FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Handbook names)3 records, 1996 to 2001Lightning, 2001-05-10, property not reported; $0 crops (2001 dollars), 1 direct injuryEvent records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Hugo town (1 record).Storm Events lists lightning with damage or casualties.
High Wind and Strong Wind (outside NRI's Strong Wind definition)wind speed (kt and mph)77 records, 1996 to 2026 (77 zone-level)38 kt (44 mph) to 87 kt (100 mph) (median 54 kt (62 mph)); 77 with a recorded value87 kt (100 mph) measured gust, High Wind, 2025-03-18; NWS zone COZ047 (covers 2 county areas)High Wind, 2001-05-20, $345,000 property; crops not reported (zone total, 2001 dollars; the zone covers 2 county areas)Countywide (zone-level records).
Thunderstorm Windwind speed (kt and mph)158 records, 1956 to 202650 kt (58 mph) to 96 kt (110 mph) (median 54 kt (62 mph)); 148 with a recorded value96 kt (110 mph) measured gust, Thunderstorm Wind, 2014-06-04Thunderstorm Wind, 2009-07-29, $25,000 property; $0 crops (2009 dollars)Event records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Hugo town (33 records).
TornadoEnhanced Fujita (Fujita before Feb 2007)113 records, 1951 to 2023F/EF0 to F/EF3 (median F/EF0); 110 with a recorded valueF3 tornado, 1990-06-06, 7 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 500 yd wide, $25,000,000 property (pre-1996 NOAA value, recorded in damage ranges); crops not recorded (1990 dollars), 14 direct injuriesEvent records naming jurisdictions in the plan: Hugo town (7 records).Before 1996 a tornado is listed once, under the county where it began, with its whole path's rating and length; from 1996 on, each county lists its own segment. Length is not used to rank tornadoes (see Methods).
Wildfireacres burned (local data)1 record, 2026 (1 zone-level)No damage reported in 1 record.Countywide (zone-level records).
Winter Storm, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Lake-Effect Snow, Winter Weather, Sleetnone in data (snowfall: local data)88 records, 1996 to 2025 (88 zone-level)No damage reported in 88 records.Countywide (zone-level records).

In event narratives only (local data needed): wind chill, temperature, heat index, ice thickness, acres burned and snow depth; any physical measure of debris flow and lightning.

Storm Events records are more complete after 1996; before 1996 only Tornado (from 1950), Hail and Thunderstorm Wind (from 1955) exist. Zone-level records from zones that no NWS zone-county file places in this county (mostly before 2020) are not counted here (the Methods page explains the zone matching).

Dollars are nominal (as reported), labeled with the year; not adjusted for inflation.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-d: previous occurrences

Federal declarations for this county: 10 declarations covering 7 separate hazard incidents counted in this packet (declarations for the same incident count once; non-natural and evacuation-only declarations are not counted).

Federal disaster declarations for this county

Sources: 1, 2, 3

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazardCounty Public Assistancefederal share obligated, nominal dollarsFlagsNotes
2023-08-252023-06-08DR-4731-COMajor disasterSevere Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Tornado$1,463,331.37new since last plan; within last 5 years
2020-03-282020-01-20DR-4498-COMajor disasterCOVID-19 PandemicNon-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recorded
2020-03-132020-01-20EM-3436-COEmergencyCOVID-19Non-natural, not countedno Public Assistance recordedsame incident as DR-4498
2013-09-142013-09-11DR-4145-COMajor disasterSevere Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Landslide$70,299.93
2005-09-052005-08-29EM-3224-COEmergencyHurricane Katrina EvacuationHurricane: evacuation support, not a local hazard event; not countedno Public Assistance recorded
2002-06-192002-04-23DR-1421-COMajor disasterWildfiresWildfirePA not declared for this county
2001-05-172001-04-11DR-1374-COMajor disasterSevere Winter StormsWinter Weatherno Public Assistance recorded
1997-08-011997-07-28DR-1186-COMajor disasterSevere Storms, Heavy Rain, Flash Floods, Flooding, MudslidesInland Flooding (primary); also designated: Landslidenot available: FEMA's Public Assistance data start in 1998 (declarations from 1998-08-26 on)
1977-01-291977-01-29EM-3025-COEmergencyDroughtDroughtnot available: FEMA's Public Assistance data start in 1998 (declarations from 1998-08-26 on)
1965-06-191965-06-19DR-200-COMajor disasterTornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingTornado (primary); also designated: Inland Floodingnot available: FEMA's Public Assistance data start in 1998 (declarations from 1998-08-26 on)

County Public Assistance: applicants the FEMA record places in this county, including any state agencies FEMA files there; statewide rows are listed on the state page; federal share obligated, nominal dollars.

Statewide declarations

Source: 2

DeclaredIncident beganFEMA numberTypeTitleMapped hazard
1956-06-121956-06-12DR-59-COMajor disasterFloodInland Flooding
1955-05-251955-05-25DR-33-COMajor disasterFloodInland Flooding

FEMA recorded these with designated area Statewide and no county, so they are listed on every county page in the state (where FEMA also gives the declaration a row for the county, it is shown once, in the county table) and not counted with county rows. Local data needed: whether each one affected this county.

10 Fire Management declarations (1978-09-12 to 2016-07-10) FEMA filed as Statewide with no county; each names one local fire. Listed on the state page.

Public Assistance filed under this county for declarations that do not list it: 1 row, $4,911,224.32

Sources: 2, 3

FEMA numberDeclaredTitleApplicantPA obligatedfederal share obligated, nominal dollars
DR-4134-CO2013-07-26Black Forest WildfireMOUNTAIN VIEW ELECTRIC ASSN$4,911,224.32

FEMA's Public Assistance summaries file these applicants under this county, but FEMA's declaration rows for these disasters do not designate it (an electric cooperative or district serving several counties, for example). Not in any declaration row above and not counted.

Previous occurrences by hazard, with explicit no-event rows

Sources: 2, 6, 7

HazardStorm Events records, all years on file(years in the Period column)Since plan approvalrecordsIn the 12 months before plan approvalrecordsLast 5 yearsrecordsDeclared incidents, all yearsseparate disastersDeclared since approvalseparate disastersPeriodStatement
Cold Wave9505001996 to 2026-06-30Includes 1 Frost/Freeze record.
Drought4202101996 to 2026-06-30
Earthquake000000Storm Events does not record earthquakes; the USGS earthquake catalog is the source.
Hail57912721126001955 to 2026-06-30
Heat Wave0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Hurricane0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Ice Storm0000001996 to 2026-06-30No recorded events, 1996 to 2026-06-30, NOAA NCEI Storm Events
Inland Flooding20404411996 to 2026-06-30
Landslide0000201996 to 2026-06-30No Storm Events records of this type; 2 federal declared incidents (see declarations table)
Lightning3000001996 to 2026-06-30
Strong Wind235691569001955 to 2026-06-30Includes 76 High Wind and 1 Strong Wind records.
Tornado113393211950 to 2026-06-30
Wildfire1101101996 to 2026-06-30
Winter Weather8825325101996 to 2026-06-30

Notable Storm Events records

Sources: 1, 6, 7

DateEvent typeMagnitude or extentDamagenominal dollarsDeaths, injuriesdirect onlyLocationFlagsWhy listed
2026-01-23Cold/Wind Chilldamage not reported0, 0NWS zone COZ046 (N & NE ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET / N LINCOLN COUNTY), zone-levelnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Cold/Wind Chill, Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
2025-08-09Hail4 indamage not reported0, 08.34 miles ENE of KARVALnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Hail
2025-03-18High Wind87 kt (100 mph) measured gustdamage not reported0, 0NWS zone COZ047 (SE ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET / SOUTH LINCOLN COUNTY), zone-levelnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: High Wind and Strong Wind
2021-11-01Droughtdamage not reported0, 0NWS zone COZ046 (N & NE ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET / N LINCOLN COUNTY), zone-levelnew since last plan; within last 5 yearsB1-c worst recorded: Drought
2014-07-16Flash Flood$250,000 property; $50,000 crops (2014 dollars)0, 031.28 miles WSW of KARVAL to 28.65 miles SE of KARVALB1-c worst recorded: Flash Flood, Flood, Lakeshore Flood
2014-06-04Thunderstorm Wind96 kt (110 mph) measured gustdamage not reported0, 0HUGOB1-c worst recorded: Thunderstorm Wind
2010-05-24High Wind74 kt (85 mph) measured gustdamage not reported0, 5NWS zone COZ046 (N & NE ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET / N LINCOLN COUNTY), zone-leveldeaths or injuries recorded
2009-07-29Thunderstorm Wind61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust$25,000 property; $0 crops (2009 dollars)0, 09.31 miles SE of BOYEROB1-c most damaging: Thunderstorm Wind
2005-10-10Winter Stormdamage not reported1, 0NWS zone COZ046 (N & NE ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET / N LINCOLN COUNTY), zone-leveldeaths or injuries recorded
2001-05-20High Wind50 kt (58 mph) estimated$345,000 property; crops not reported (zone total, 2001 dollars)0, 0NWS zone COZ046 (N & NE ELBERT COUNTY BELOW 6000 FEET / N LINCOLN COUNTY), zone-levelB1-c most damaging: High Wind and Strong Wind
2001-05-10Lightningproperty not reported; $0 crops (2001 dollars)0, 1LIMONB1-c worst recorded: Lightning
1993-09-07Hail1 in$5,000 property (pre-1996 NOAA value, recorded in damage ranges); $50,000 crops (1993 dollars)0, 0ArribaB1-c most damaging: Hail
1990-06-06TornadoF3, 7 mi path length (whole path, pre-1996), 500 yd wide$25,000,000 property (pre-1996 NOAA value, recorded in damage ranges); crops not recorded (1990 dollars)0, 14location not recordeddeaths or injuries recorded; B1-c worst recorded: Tornado

The full list is in the Excel file, sheet "B1-d Storm Events history" (1,052 rows).

Location is the place NOAA recorded, as written in its data; it need not be a jurisdiction in this plan.

Local data needed: state-declared emergencies, from your state emergency management agency (federal data do not include them).

Tribal and special-area declarations in this state are listed on the state page.

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-e: probability of future events

Probability: FEMA annualized frequency and descriptor per hazard

Sources: 5, 6

HazardFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)unit per rowUnitIn plain termsDescriptorDescriptor basisNRI events or days in its record period (hail, wind and tornado are area-weighted, so can be fractional)NRI periodLocationNote
Cold Wave1.95event-days per yearabout 1.95 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 6 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (20%)372005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide
Drought84.7event-days per yearabout 84.7 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 3 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (10%)2,3662000 to 2025 (25.25 years; D3 and D4 only)countywide
Earthquake0.000504annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county has at least minor-damage shaking in a year: 0.0504%UnlikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled), at a location in the countynot shownmodeledsee B1-fStorm Events does not record earthquakes.
Hail6.32events per yearabout 6.32 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)240.2 (modeled)1986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Heat Wave0.335event-days per yearabout 0.335 days per yearStorm Events event-days in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)4.372005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywideNo Storm Events heat wave record, 1996 to 2025
Hurricaneevents per year1851 to 2024 (Atlantic)see B1-fNot Applicable in NRI for this county; no descriptor.
Ice Storm0.0259event-days per yearabout 0.0259 days per yearStorm Events event-days in 0 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (0%)21946-12-31 to 2014-02-12 (67 years)countywideNo Storm Events ice storm record, 1996 to 2025
Inland Flooding0.607event-days per yearabout 0.607 days per yearLikelyStorm Events event-days in 14 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (46.7%)171996 to 2023 (28 years)see B1-f
Landslide0.289events per year (modeled)about 1 in 3 yearsLikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shownmodeledsee B1-f
Lightning50.1days per year with a strikeabout 50.1 days per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1995 to 2023 (29 years; CONUS)countywide
Strong Wind1.36events per yearabout 1.36 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)521986 to 2023 (38 years)countywide
Tornado2.62events per yearabout 2.62 per yearHighly likelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled)not shown1950 to 2023 (EF2+); 1986 to 2023 (EF0-1)see B1-f
Wildfire0.000535annual probability at a locationchance a given location in the county burns in a year: 0.0535%UnlikelyFEMA annualized frequency (modeled), at a location in the countynot shownmodeledsee B1-fNo Storm Events record, 1996 to 2025.
Winter Weather9.49event-days per yearabout 9.49 days per yearHighly likelyStorm Events event-days in 27 of 30 years, 1996 to 2025 (90%)1802005-11-12 to 2024-11-12 (19 years)countywide

FEMA annualized frequency (modeled) is the National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025) estimate of how often a hazard affects this county in a year; it is not recorded events divided by years, and its unit differs by hazard (events, event-days, or days with a lightning strike per year). For earthquake, wildfire, coastal flooding and tsunami the value is the chance (or number of events) at a location in the county, not across the county, so no "1 in N years" is given and the descriptor comes from Storm Events where it has a record; otherwise (always for earthquake) the scale is applied to the chance at a location, and the county as a whole is at least as likely. The Methods page gives each hazard's method, from FEMA's National Risk Index Technical Documentation v1.20.

Where NRI gives event-days, the descriptor comes from the share of years with a Storm Events record; NRI's source records more events, so the two differ.

Descriptor scale used in this packet (defined per unit)

Sources: 5, 6

UnitDescriptorDefinition
events per yearHighly likely1 or more per year
events per yearLikelyabout once in 1 to 10 years
events per yearPossibleabout once in 10 to 100 years
events per yearUnlikelyless than once in 100 years
annual probabilityLikely10% to under 100% chance in a given year
annual probabilityPossible1% to under 10% chance in a given year
annual probabilityUnlikelyunder 1% chance in a given year
event-days (share of years)Highly likelyevent-days recorded in 90% or more of years
event-days (share of years)Likelyevent-days recorded in 10% to under 90% of years
event-days (share of years)Possibleevent-days recorded in some years but under 10% of years
lightning strike-daysHighly likelycloud-to-ground strikes on 1 or more days per year

Intensity bands: historical frequency (Storm Events)

Source: 6

HazardBandYearsEventscounty-coded recordsYears in periodEvents per yearevents / years
Hail1.00-1.99 in1996 to 20253053010.2
Hail2.00 in+1996 to 202566302.2
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)50-64 kt1996 to 2025114303.8
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)65 kt+1996 to 202511300.367
Thunderstorm Wind (counted as NRI Strong Wind)unmeasured or below 50 kt1996 to 20250300
TornadoEF0-11996 to 202563302.1
TornadoEF2-31996 to 20252300.0667
TornadoEF4-51996 to 20250300
Tornadounrated (EFU)1996 to 20251300.0333

The bands show how often events of each severity were recorded in this county, to profile how severe events have been (FEMA's probability item asks for the range of intensities).

Hail smaller than 1 inch is not counted: on 2010-01-05 the National Weather Service raised its severe-hail threshold from 3/4 inch to 1 inch, so smaller reports became less common after 2009 (NWS Service Change Notice 09-52). NRI hail frequency uses a 0.75 inch threshold.

Optional: future conditions. Not a required item in the 2025 FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide; some states ask for it. The federal Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) site gives county exposure to future climate conditions (https://resilience.climate.gov/).

Supports FEMA checklist item B1-f: hazards that vary across jurisdictions

Natural hazards by jurisdiction: federal-data draft

Sources: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9

Draft from federal data for the planning team to confirm and trim: FEMA National Risk Index census tract ratings (NRI v1.20, December 2025) and Census 2020 blocks. A row covers every 2020 census tract that holds part of the jurisdiction's area in this county. X: at least one of those tracts has an NRI rating (Very Low to Very High) for the hazard. o: NRI "No Rating" (no expected loss modeled; not "cannot occur"). Blank: NRI Not Applicable or Insufficient Data in those tracts (not rated; also not "cannot occur"). Census tracts are coarse, so rows that share the same tracts are identical.

JurisdictionNRI hazard (X rated, o No Rating, blank Not Applicable or Insufficient Data)Evidence from federal records
Cold WaveDroughtEarthquakeHailHeat WaveIce StormInland FloodingLandslideLightningStrong WindTornadoWildfireWinter WeatherEvent records naming the placeall yearsPublic Assistancematched by name; nominal dollarsRepetitive-loss propertiesany definition
Lincoln County (unincorporated area)XXXXXXXXXXXXX0$1,420,323.460
Hugo townXXXXXXXXXXXXX114$113,307.840

Not shown: hazards NRI rates Not Applicable or Insufficient Data in every census tract of the county (Avalanche, Coastal Flooding, Hurricane, Tsunami, Volcanic Activity).

Inland Flooding is X on every row because NRI rates inland flooding in every tract these rows touch; plans often mark only the jurisdictions with recurring flood problems or mapped flood zones.

Evidence columns repeat figures from the jurisdiction table of this section (event records naming the place, all years; Public Assistance matched by applicant name; repetitive-loss properties, any definition).

Range of census tract risk within the county

Source: 5

HazardTractsrated of allNRI risk score, 0 to 100Tracts by rating
MinMedianMax
Cold Wave2 of 284.887.590.2Relatively High 2
Drought2 of 294.496.498.5Relatively High 1, Relatively Moderate 1
Earthquake2 of 229.835.641.3Relatively Low 1, Very Low 1
Hail2 of 294.596.899.2Very High 1, Relatively High 1
Heat Wave2 of 24.95.25.5Very Low 2
Hurricane0 of 2Not Applicable 2
Ice Storm2 of 231.636.942.2Relatively Low 1, Very Low 1
Inland Flooding2 of 247.670.493.2Relatively High 1, Relatively Low 1
Landslide2 of 238.948.858.7Very Low 2
Lightning2 of 283.583.884.2Relatively High 2
Strong Wind2 of 295.696.296.8Very High 1, Relatively High 1
Tornado2 of 271.477.383.3Relatively High 1, Relatively Moderate 1
Wildfire2 of 283.789.294.6Relatively Moderate 1, Relatively Low 1
Winter Weather2 of 296.296.496.6Very High 2

Drought: Agriculture is all of NRI's expected annual loss for this hazard in the county, so the tract range mostly reflects where crop and livestock value is.

Hail: Agriculture is 53% of NRI's expected annual loss for this hazard in the county, so the tract range mostly reflects where crop and livestock value is.

Rated tracts only: No Rating (score 0.0), Not Applicable and Insufficient Data tracts are counted but not used for the minimum, median and maximum.

The score ranks a tract against all U.S. tracts (100 = highest). The rating is FEMA's category for the tract's risk value, computed differently, so the two can disagree.

Frequency data for cold wave, drought, hail, heat wave, ice storm, lightning, strong wind and winter weather are county-wide or coarse (49 km grid or NWS zone), the same for every jurisdiction; the tract range mostly reflects where buildings and people are (crop and livestock value where a line above names agriculture).

This county has 2 census tracts; the minimum, median and maximum come from the rated tracts among those 2.

Each jurisdiction (starting figures from federal data)

Sources: 1, 3, 4, 6

JurisdictionTypePlan statusRepetitive lossFMA RL and SRL (44 CFR 77.2); repeat-flood, any definitionPublic Assistance to this jurisdictionFEMA records matched by applicant name; federal share obligated, nominal dollarsEvent records naming this placeall years; since its planNotes
Lincoln CountyCountyExpired on 2026-08-01FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$1,420,323.460 total; 0 since its plan
Hugo townTownExpired on 2026-08-01FMA RL 0, SRL 0; any 0$113,307.84114 total; 31 since its plan84 of the 114 event records naming this place use it as NOAA's reference point for a location 0.69 to 20 miles away (NOAA's distance).

Repetitive-loss counts are for whole NFIP communities, which can extend beyond this county (see the note in B2-c).

FEMA files applicants under varying names, so these rows may not include every payment to a jurisdiction. The county totals in B1-d count every applicant FEMA files under this county, whatever the name.

Supports FEMA checklist items B2-a and B2-b: vulnerability and potential impacts

Local data needed

The table below gives county-level starting figures; the plan describes impacts for each jurisdiction and its own assets.

  • Critical facilities and lifelines per hazard
  • A problem statement per jurisdiction per hazard
  • Changes in development in hazard-prone areas since the last approval, or a statement of none (E1-a)
  • Future assets

County-level starter: exposure, expected annual loss and damage since the plan

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

HazardBuilding exposuremodeled dollarsAgriculture exposuremodeled dollarsPopulation exposedpeopleEAL buildingsmodeled dollars per yearEAL agriculturemodeled dollars per yearCost of expected deaths and injuriesFEMA's dollar value per year, not property damageEAL as % of exposurebuildings; agriculture where notedStorm Events damage since 2021-08-02county-coded records, property plus crops, nominal dollarsZone-level damage since planproperty plus crops, reported for the zonePublic Assistance since plannominal dollars; see noteNote
Cold Wave$1,583,103,598$87,339,9025,675$1,449$110,479$391,535under 0.0001%$0
Droughtn/a$27,226,070n/an/a$408,291n/a1.5% (agriculture)NRI has no building exposure for this hazard; agriculture shown
Earthquake$2,781,022,380n/a5,675$23,846n/a$5,1240.000857%
Hail$1,583,103,598$87,339,9025,675$267,237$301,414$4,6530.0169%$0
Heat Wave$1,583,103,598$87,339,9025,675$2$893$7,381under 0.0001%
HurricaneNot Applicable in NRI for this county
Ice Storm$1,583,103,598n/a5,675$3,576n/a$2,0760.000226%
Inland Flooding$1,582,502,027$262111$2,080,637$4$2,915n/a (see note)$55,000$1,463,331.37NRI counts the full building value of any census block with some flood loss; this is not the value of buildings in the floodplain. Use local FIRM overlays for B2-a/B2-b.
Landslide$1,759,575n/a3$5n/a$20.000273%
Lightning$1,583,103,598n/a5,675$1,444n/a$66,034under 0.0001%
Strong Wind$1,583,103,598$87,339,9025,675$71,285$3,798$254,6150.0045%$0$0
Tornado$1,583,103,598$87,339,9025,675$328,855$6,800$91,1720.0208%$0$1,463,331.37
Wildfire$351,499,475$32,225,7391,976$84,622$44$4,0470.0241%$0
Winter Weather$1,583,103,598$87,339,9025,675$9,216under $1$54,5360.000582%$0

Totals since 2021-08-02 (Storm Events through 2026-06-30): 178 county-coded records, 18 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $55,000; 58 zone-level records, 22 with a damage value recorded (including $0), $0 reported for the zone; Public Assistance: $1,463,331.37 on 1 counted declaration.

FEMA does not split Public Assistance by hazard. A declaration mapped to several hazards is listed under each of them with its full amount, so the per-hazard column does not add up to the total; the unit total counts each declaration once.

NRI computes earthquake exposure on its own basis, so it exceeds the county building value in B2-a.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-a: vulnerability (county context)

County context

Source: 5

MeasureValue
Population5,675
Building value (total, not at risk)$1,583,103,598
Agriculture value (total, not at risk)$87,339,902
NRI risk rating (all hazards)Very Low
Expected annual loss, buildings and agriculture, all hazards$3,703,896
Expected annual loss, population equivalence, all hazards (NRI values each statistical life at $13.7M; a modeled value of expected deaths and injuries, not property damage)$884,090
Social vulnerability ratingVery Low
Community resilience ratingRelatively Low
NRI versionDecember 2025

FEMA's all-hazard expected annual loss adds buildings, agriculture and population equivalence; this table gives the property part and the population-equivalence part as separate rows.

Social vulnerability: higher means people are more likely to be harmed and slower to recover. Community resilience: lower means the community is less able to recover. High social vulnerability and low resilience both raise the NRI risk rating.

Supports FEMA checklist item B2-c: repetitive loss properties

Repetitive loss in this county, both definitions

Sources: 1, 4

DefinitionPropertiesSevere repetitive lossProperties
Repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)0Severe repetitive loss, FMA definition (44 CFR 77.2)0
Repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition0Severe repetitive loss, NFIP insurance definition0

The state NFIP coordinator's list, the source FEMA's Handbook names, often uses the NFIP insurance definition (second row).

Repeat-flood properties: county and state-level rows

Sources: 1, 4

ScopeRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
County total0000000
Statewide, no county in FEMA's file0080800

The statewide row counts properties FEMA's file gives with no county in this state; they are listed for reference and are not in this county's counts.

Repeat-flood properties by jurisdiction in the plan (NFIP community)

Sources: 1, 4

JurisdictionNFIP community IDRL, FMApropertiesSRL, FMApropertiesRL, NFIPpropertiesSRL, NFIPpropertiesAny categorypropertiesMitigatedpropertiesCurrently insuredproperties
Lincoln County0802830000000
Hugo town0801080000000

Counts by occupancy group for each jurisdiction are in the Excel file, sheet "B2-c Jurisdictions".

Jurisdiction rows are whole NFIP communities and need not add up to the county total: a community that extends into another county is counted in full on each jurisdiction row, while the county table counts only its part in this county.

County repeat-flood properties by occupancy group: 0 in every occupancy group.

Sources: 1, 4

FMA RL and FMA SRL are the Flood Mitigation Assistance definitions (44 CFR 77.2), the ones the FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide cites. NFIP repetitive loss (the FEMA insurance definition) is 2 or more claims over $1,000 in 10 years, and a property can leave that group once it is mitigated. Also shown: NFIP severe repetitive loss, any category, mitigated and currently insured. The Methods page gives the OpenFEMA field details.

Counts are aggregates of FEMA's public NFIP Multiple Loss Properties file (FEMA's data date 2026-08-02; file version 2026-08-04). No property is identified. County assignment is FEMA's geocode.

In this county 0 properties are FMA repetitive loss but not NFIP repetitive loss, and 0 properties are NFIP repetitive loss but not FMA repetitive loss.

Exact counts; no count suppression.

Sources

Tables cite these sources by number. The full list, for the plan's bibliography (FEMA review item A4-a):

  1. FEMA, OpenFEMA HazardMitigationPlanStatuses v1, version 2026-09-29T134039Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/HazardMitigationPlanStatuses (API)
  2. FEMA, OpenFEMA DisasterDeclarationsSummaries v2, version 2026-09-29T162832Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v2/DisasterDeclarationsSummaries (API)
  3. FEMA, OpenFEMA PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries v1, version 2026-09-29T150754Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/PublicAssistanceFundedProjectsSummaries (API)
  4. FEMA, OpenFEMA NfipMultipleLossProperties v1, version 2026-08-04T164045Z, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/api/open/v1/NfipMultipleLossProperties (API)
  5. FEMA, FEMA National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025), county and census tract tables, version 1.20.0, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_Counties.zip (download, 25 MB), https://www.fema.gov/about/reports-and-data/openfema/nri/v120/NRI_Table_CensusTracts.zip (download, 635 MB)
  6. NOAA NCEI, NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, details files (csvfiles v1.0), version c20260918, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/swdi/stormevents/csvfiles/
  7. NOAA National Weather Service, NWS county-public forecast zones correlation file, version bp03mr20 to bp16ap26 (11 files; newest bp16ap26), pulled 2026-09-30, https://www.weather.gov/gis/ZoneCounty
  8. U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2024 Gazetteer, 2020 place by county, CT county-to-cousub crosswalk, version 2024-gazetteer, pulled 2026-09-30, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_counties_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_cousubs_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_place_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_unsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_elsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_Gaz_scsd_national.zip, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/codes2020/national_place_by_county2020.txt, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/ct_change/ct_cou_to_cousub_crosswalk.xlsx (used to match place names and codes; no table prints its values)
  9. U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2020 Block Assignment Files (county subdivision and place), version baf2020, pulled 2026-10-02, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/baf2020/, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/01-Redistricting_File--PL_94-171/
  10. U.S. Census Bureau, Census county adjacency file, 2024 vintage, version 2024, pulled 2026-10-03, https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/county_adjacency/county_adjacency2024.txt
  11. NOAA National Hurricane Center, NHC HURDAT2 best-track data (Atlantic 1851 to 2025; Northeast and North Central Pacific 1949 to 2025), version 2025-092326, pulled 2026-10-03, https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/hurdat/hurdat2-1851-2025-092326.txt, https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/hurdat/hurdat2-nepac-1949-2025-092926.txt

What this packet is and what the plan adds

This packet is the federal data for the plan's risk assessment (the summary on page 1 says how it is organized); the plan and FEMA's review decide whether each item is met.

The plan adds what only the community has: local data on assets, critical facilities, development and each jurisdiction's impacts; local hazard history, including state-declared emergencies; the mitigation strategy; and adoption.

How the federal data are built: National Risk Index values are FEMA's model, not counts of events. Storm Events is more complete from 1996; zone-level records are placed by forecast zone, not by location in the county. Public Assistance for a jurisdiction is matched by applicant name. The Methods page gives every rule and the known edge cases.

OpenFEMA disclaimer

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Reuse, citation and corrections

Reuse and citation: Hazard Plain text and tables are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/); credit Hazard Plain and the release. The underlying federal data are public domain; OpenFEMA data are also subject to the OpenFEMA terms and conditions.

Cite this: Hazard Plain (2026). Lincoln County, CO: risk-assessment baseline packet, release 2026-10 (data as of 2026-09-30; County FIPS 08073). Automated baseline. https://hazardplain.org/co/08073/ Built from FEMA OpenFEMA, the FEMA National Risk Index and NOAA NCEI Storm Events; source versions in the packet's Sources list.

Corrections: to report an error, name the packet, the table and what your records show. Contact: contact@hazardplain.org