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Franklin County, Indiana

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

Very Low overall risk
59th of 92highest risk in Indiana
$13Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Franklin County, Indiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 66% of US counties. It ranks 59th of 92 counties in Indiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and cold waves. FEMA estimates about $13 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $554 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (17 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 29 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $839,000 on 53 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

$8.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 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.
$2.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 4 years.
  • 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.
$808,637 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingLow52.7
$8M
TornadoLow60.5
$2M
Cold waveLow41.9
$809K
Strong windModerate57.2
$775K
EarthquakeVery Low40.0
$177K
HailVery Low30.5
$139K
LightningLow28.8
$120K
Heat waveVery Low23.9
$102K
Ice stormLow44.2
$75K
DroughtLow39.7
$73K
LandslideModerate87.3
$47K
Winter weatherVery Low21.5
$22K
WildfireVery Low14.9
$6K
HurricaneVery Low10.6
$2K

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 low and community resilience is relatively moderate 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 Storm11
Flood6
Snowstorm2
Tornado1
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Aug 25, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 15, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergency
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 22, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 23, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, AndMajor disaster
Sep 23, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 8, 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 21, 2005Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 11, 2005SnowEmergency
Show all 22
Jun 3, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 25, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Jun 13, 2002Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 22, 1998Severe Storms and Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 3, 1996Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 2, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disaster
Sep 18, 1992Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 5, 1991Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 4, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 2, 1977SnowstormsEmergency
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disaster
Jul 30, 1968FloodingMajor disaster

Indiana also had 5 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1960

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 249 storm reports in Franklin County since 1960, with 11 deaths and 12 injuries and about $3.5 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974.

14tornadoes
49hail reports, largest 3 inches
116damaging thunderstorm winds
69floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Apr 3, 1974F4–10 / 2
Jun 18, 2026EF2South Gate0 / 0
Aug 9, 1969F2–0 / 0
Jun 30, 1960F2–0 / 0
Oct 8, 1992F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 8, 2016Flash FloodStavetown$500K
Jun 19, 2021Flash FloodOldenburg$500K
Oct 8, 1992Tornado–$250K
May 1, 2012TornadoMt Carmel$250K
Jun 18, 2026TornadoSouth Gate$250K
Jul 28, 2023Flash FloodOak Forest$200K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 18, 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 (29 policies)
7.3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$838,845paid on 53 flood claims since 1978
2021costliest year, with $169,307 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

$249,500median home value (Indiana $218,200, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (Indiana 1976, US 1980)
49%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
12%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; 9,796 housing units.

Compare in Indiana

All 92 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Marion CountyHighInland flooding
Lake CountyHighInland flooding
Allen CountyModerateInland flooding
Hamilton CountyModerateInland flooding
St. Joseph CountyModerateInland flooding
Elkhart CountyModerateInland flooding
Tippecanoe CountyModerateInland flooding
Vanderburgh CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Hamilton County, OHHigh17
Butler County, OHModerate12
Dearborn CountyLow20
Ripley CountyLow15
Decatur CountyVery Low14
Fayette CountyVery Low15
Rush CountyVery Low15
Union CountyVery Low15

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 $8.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $2.1 million.

How many federal disasters has Franklin County had?

Franklin County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 17 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in August 2026.

Is Franklin County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 59th highest of 92 in Indiana. 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 14 tornadoes in Franklin County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on April 3, 1974. The weather service has also logged 49 hail reports and 69 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.