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Franklin County, Illinois

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

Relatively Low overall risk
21st of 102highest risk in Illinois
$32Mexpected losses a year
8federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0

Franklin County, Illinois has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 81% of US counties. It ranks 21st of 102 counties in Illinois. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, inland flooding and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $32 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $845 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2011 (severe storms and flooding). Only 48 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $549,000 on 60 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Franklin County

Earthquake

Moderate
$11.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 125 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • 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.
$5.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
EarthquakeModerate95.4
$12M
Inland floodingLow65.7
$8M
Cold waveHigh89.9
$5M
TornadoModerate79.3
$3M
Heat waveModerate87.4
$2M
Strong windHigh88.5
$1M
HailLow72.8
$459K
LightningModerate60.5
$247K
Winter weatherHigh86.7
$225K
DroughtLow58.2
$182K
Ice stormModerate63.1
$110K
HurricaneVery Low45.6
$35K
WildfireVery Low5.8
$1K
LandslideVery Low50.3
$982

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 high and community resilience is relatively high 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

Severe Storm4
Flood1
Tornado1
Snowstorm1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jun 7, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 2, 2009Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 1, 2005Record/Near Record SnowEmergency
May 21, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
May 6, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 6, 1983Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 26, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Illinois also had 2 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 431 storm reports in Franklin County since 1955, with 1 death and 39 injuries and about $31 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on December 18, 1957.

19tornadoes
116hail reports, largest 3 inches
169damaging thunderstorm winds
103floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 18, 1957F4–10 / 0
Apr 27, 1971F3–20 / 1
Feb 28, 2017EF3Mulkeytown0 / 0
Feb 9, 1960F2–0 / 0
Apr 27, 1994F1West Frankfort1 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 10, 1996Flash FloodWest Frankfort$8M
May 8, 2009Thunderstorm WindWest Frankfort$6M
Apr 28, 1996Flash FloodWest Frankfort$3M
Apr 27, 1971Tornado–$3M
Dec 18, 1957Tornado–$3M
Mar 18, 2008FloodThompsonville$2M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 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 ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (48 policies)
10%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$549,037paid on 60 flood claims since 1978
1996costliest year, with $196,013 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

$89,000median home value (Illinois $263,300, US $332,700)
1963median year homes were built (Illinois 1971, US 1980)
70%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.3%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; 18,462 housing units.

Compare in Illinois

All 102 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Cook CountyVery HighInland flooding
DuPage CountyHighInland flooding
Lake CountyHighInland flooding
Will CountyHighInland flooding
Kane CountyHighInland flooding
McHenry CountyModerateInland flooding
Winnebago CountyModerateInland flooding
Madison CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Williamson CountyModerate7
Jackson CountyModerate13
Jefferson CountyLow3
Saline CountyLow7
Perry CountyLow5
Hamilton CountyVery Low8

Common questions about Franklin County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Franklin County?

Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Franklin County, about $11.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $8 million.

How many federal disasters has Franklin County had?

Franklin County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1973, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Flooding in June 2011.

Is Franklin County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 21st highest of 102 in Illinois. 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 333 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 19 tornadoes in Franklin County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on December 18, 1957. The weather service has also logged 116 hail reports and 103 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.