Franklin County, Georgia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Franklin County, Georgia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 67% of US counties. It ranks 86th of 159 counties in Georgia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $8.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $350 per resident. Since 1976 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 5 homes here carry federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Franklin County
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
- Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 43.1 | $4M | ||
| Tornado | 53.8 | $1M | ||
| Cold wave | 57.6 | $980K | ||
| Earthquake | 63.1 | $417K | ||
| Hurricane | 68.6 | $404K | ||
| Hail | 59.3 | $284K | ||
| Ice storm | 76.0 | $238K | ||
| Strong wind | 31.3 | $234K | ||
| Lightning | 51.0 | $186K | ||
| Heat wave | 37.3 | $155K | ||
| Drought | 41.3 | $58K | ||
| Wildfire | 27.6 | $10K | ||
| Winter weather | 11.2 | $7K | ||
| Landslide | 39.7 | $497 |
Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Franklin County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 14
Georgia also had 8 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1952
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 189 storm reports in Franklin County since 1952, with 1 death and 4 injuries and about $2.1 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on September 16, 2004 near Franklin Spgs.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 16, 2004 | F2 | Franklin Spgs | 1 / 1 |
| Sep 16, 2004 | F2 | Franklin Spgs | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 9, 1970 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 29, 1952 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 10, 2009 | EF2 | Red Hill | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 16, 2004 | Tornado | Franklin Spgs | $1M |
| Apr 9, 1970 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 28, 1973 | Tornado | – | $250K |
| May 6, 2003 | Tornado | Sandy Cross | $100K |
| Apr 13, 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Plainview | $100K |
| Sep 16, 2004 | Tornado | Franklin Spgs | $75K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 16, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane risk by county ›Since 1859, 0 hurricanes and 8 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Franklin County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1949, with top winds near 60 mph about 61 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 61 mi |
| Sep 27, 2024 | Helene | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 50 mi |
| Sep 24, 1889 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 63 mi |
| Oct 3, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 63 mi |
| Jul 15, 1916 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 10, 1882 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 56 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2024 | Helene | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 50 mi |
| Aug 28, 1949 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 61 mi |
| Jul 15, 1916 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 63 mi |
| Jul 8, 1896 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 61 mi |
| Oct 3, 1893 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 63 mi |
| Sep 24, 1889 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 63 mi |
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.
Flood insurance in Franklin County
Check your address flood zone ›National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.
Homes in Franklin County
Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 10,905 housing units.
Compare in Georgia
All 159 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Fulton County | Inland flooding | |
| Gwinnett County | Inland flooding | |
| Cobb County | Inland flooding | |
| DeKalb County | Inland flooding | |
| Clayton County | Inland flooding | |
| Chatham County | Hurricane | |
| Cherokee County | Inland flooding | |
| Forsyth County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Oconee County, SC | 22 | |
| Madison County | 13 | |
| Stephens County | 16 | |
| Hart County | 12 | |
| Banks County | 16 |
Common questions about Franklin County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Franklin County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Franklin County, about $4.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Franklin County had?
Franklin County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1976, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Franklin County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 86th highest of 159 in Georgia. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.
Do I need flood insurance in Franklin County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Franklin County had?
NOAA records list 13 tornadoes in Franklin County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on September 16, 2004 near Franklin Spgs. The weather service has also logged 41 hail reports and 10 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Franklin County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 8 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Franklin County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1949, with winds near 60 mph.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.