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Franklin County, Idaho

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
37th of 44highest risk in Idaho
$5Mexpected losses a year
2federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Franklin County, Idaho has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 92% of US counties. It ranks 37th of 44 counties in Idaho. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $5.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $382 per resident. Since 2005 it has been included in 2 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (1 major disaster). The most recent was in April 2017 (severe winter storms and flooding). Only 4 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

$2.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 years.
  • 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.
$1.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 80 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$487,367 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 175 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low17.4
$3M
EarthquakeLow70.5
$1M
WildfireLow78.8
$487K
Cold waveVery Low20.5
$316K
LightningLow39.2
$211K
Heat waveVery Low26.6
$147K
Winter weatherModerate64.3
$142K
Strong windVery Low10.4
$104K
HailVery Low6.1
$23K
TornadoVery Low3.2
$11K
Ice stormVery Low5.5
$3K
DroughtVery Low16.5
$2K
LandslideVery Low41.3
$978
AvalancheVery Low25.4
$90
Volcanic activityVery Low21.8
$1

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 very low 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

Hurricane1
Flood1

Most recent

Apr 21, 2017Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane KatrinaEmergency

Idaho also had 16 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1958

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 55 storm reports in Franklin County since 1958, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F1 tornado on May 21, 1986.

4tornadoes
18hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
24damaging thunderstorm winds
7floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 21, 1986F1–0 / 0
Jun 30, 1982F1–0 / 0
May 5, 1995n/a–0 / 0
May 5, 1995n/aStation Creek0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Feb 5, 2017FloodThatcher$2M
Mar 1, 2017FloodThatcher$77K
Aug 26, 1998HailPreston$52K
May 21, 1986Tornado–$25K
Aug 9, 2017Flash FloodFairview$25K
Mar 25, 2006Thunderstorm WindCentral Portion$10K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 27, 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.

Flood insurance in Franklin County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (4 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2,525paid on 1 flood claims since 1978
2006costliest year, with $2,525 paid

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

$372,600median home value (Idaho $418,600, US $332,700)
1975median year homes were built (Idaho 1991, US 1980)
56%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.2%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

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; 5,212 housing units.

Compare in Idaho

All 44 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Ada CountyModerateInland flooding
Canyon CountyLowInland flooding
Kootenai CountyLowInland flooding
Bonneville CountyModerateInland flooding
Twin Falls CountyLowInland flooding
Bannock CountyLowWildfire
Madison CountyLowInland flooding
Bingham CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Cache County, UTLow5
Bannock CountyLow3
Caribou CountyVery Low3
Bear Lake CountyVery Low2
Oneida CountyVery Low1
Rich County, UTVery Low3

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 $2.9 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $1.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Franklin County had?

Franklin County has been included in 2 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 2005, including 1 major disaster. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms and Flooding in April 2017.

Is Franklin County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 37th highest of 44 in Idaho. 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. About 1 in 1000 homes in Franklin County has federal flood insurance. 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 4 tornadoes in Franklin County since 1950. The strongest was an F1 tornado on May 21, 1986. The weather service has also logged 18 hail reports and 7 floods here.

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.