How Likely Is a Tornado in Lincoln County, OR?
Lincoln County's tornado history, by the numbers
Lincoln County has recorded 4 tornado touches in NOAA's 76-year database, a rate of roughly one every 18.9 years - our Minimal band. Put another way: Lincoln County sees more tornado activity than 14% of US counties. Oregon has 36 counties in this dataset; Lincoln County ranks 17 of them by frequency.
Beyond the frequency band: violent history
4 weak and 0 significant tornadoes make up Lincoln County's 4-track record - none violent. NOAA has never logged an EF4 or EF5 crossing this county.
The dollar figure Lincoln County's rating leads to
Cost nationally: $2,890-$13,280, about $7,645 typical. Oregon has no state rebate program confirmed here; FEMA's underlying 75% cost-share exists nationwide, but applying through a state program is what usually makes it real, and none was found for Oregon this pass.
What a direct hit isn't required for
A direct hit is not required for Lincoln County to lose power - outbreak-wide outages across Oregon regularly reach homes and businesses well outside the actual tracks. A battery bank covers that gap without a generator's fuel and venting needs.
What this number is, and is not
One caveat before relying on Lincoln County's number: it is county-wide, and it covers about 981 square miles, so a single touch counts the same as one in a county a fraction of that size. Weaker pre-1990s tornadoes are also documented as undercounted in NOAA's own record. Lincoln County has about 51,212 residents.