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Franklin County, Mississippi

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

Very Low overall risk
74th of 82highest risk in Mississippi
$4Mexpected losses a year
23federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Franklin County, Mississippi has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 83% of US counties. It ranks 74th of 82 counties in Mississippi. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $4.2 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $554 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in June 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Only 6 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $99,000 on 12 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

$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once 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.
$1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 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.
$373,069 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 9 years.
  • Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
  • Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low23.2
$2M
TornadoLow57.4
$1M
HurricaneLow69.9
$373K
Heat waveLow55.7
$313K
Strong windLow38.2
$252K
HailLow48.5
$158K
Cold waveVery Low18.9
$131K
LightningLow34.5
$84K
DroughtLow44.8
$64K
EarthquakeVery Low27.4
$36K
Ice stormLow35.0
$27K
WildfireVery Low40.7
$18K
LandslideLow64.9
$2K
Winter weatherVery Low4.5
$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 very high 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

Hurricane11
Severe Storm6
Flood2
Winter Storm2
Snowstorm1
Severe Ice Storm1

Most recent

Jun 30, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 6, 2026Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 12, 2023Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes.Major disaster
Oct 22, 2021Hurricane IdaMajor disaster
Aug 28, 2021Hurricane IdaEmergency
May 4, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Oct 8, 2020Hurricane DeltaEmergency
Sep 14, 2020Hurricane SallyEmergency
Aug 23, 2020Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm LauraEmergency
Show all 23
Aug 29, 2012Hurricane IsaacMajor disaster
Sep 22, 2008Hurricane GustavMajor disaster
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergency
Aug 29, 2005Hurricane KatrinaMajor disaster
Sep 15, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disaster
Apr 24, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, FloodsMajor disaster
Feb 23, 2001Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Apr 16, 1983Severe Storms, Flooding & TornadoesMajor disaster
Feb 22, 1977Drought & FreezingEmergency
Apr 18, 1974Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 27, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 19, 1972Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 25, 1965Hurricane BetsyMajor disaster

Mississippi also had 11 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1969

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 282 storm reports in Franklin County since 1969, with 0 deaths and 10 injuries and about $13.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on December 28, 2024 near Bude.

21tornadoes
72hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
152damaging thunderstorm winds
34floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Dec 28, 2024EF3Bude2 / 0
Apr 5, 1983F2–4 / 0
Dec 16, 2019EF2Knoxville1 / 0
Jan 4, 1972F2–0 / 0
Dec 9, 2008EF1Hamburg0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 5, 1983Tornado–$3M
May 3, 2009Thunderstorm WindRoxie$2M
Sep 2, 2008Flash FloodMeadville$1M
Feb 22, 2008Flash FloodBude$1M
Dec 28, 2024TornadoBude$1M
Aug 2, 2008Thunderstorm WindQuentin$600K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 23, 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 1856, 8 hurricanes and 26 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Franklin County, 16 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Camille (1969), with top winds near 100 mph about 65 miles away.

8hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
26tropical storms
2024most recent: Francine

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 18, 1969CamilleCategory 2, 100 mph65 mi
Sep 21, 1909UnnamedCategory 2, 95 mph63 mi
Sep 1, 1879UnnamedCategory 1, 85 mph64 mi
Aug 20, 1888UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph63 mi
Oct 2, 1860UnnamedCategory 1, 80 mph55 mi
Sep 2, 1985ElenaCategory 1, 75 mph57 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 12, 2024FrancineTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Aug 30, 2021IdaCategory 1, 75 mph61 mi
Oct 10, 2020DeltaTropical storm, 50 mph64 mi
Jun 8, 2020CristobalTropical storm, 40 mph63 mi
Aug 30, 2012IsaacTropical storm, 60 mph62 mi
Sep 26, 2002IsidoreTropical storm, 50 mph63 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 ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (6 policies)
3%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$98,730paid on 12 flood claims since 1978
2024costliest year, with $53,153 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

$101,900median home value (Mississippi $169,800, US $332,700)
1981median year homes were built (Mississippi 1986, US 1980)
48%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
21.6%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; 4,329 housing units.

Compare in Mississippi

All 82 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Hinds CountyModerateInland flooding
Harrison CountyHighHurricane
DeSoto CountyModerateEarthquake
Rankin CountyModerateInland flooding
Jackson CountyModerateHurricane
Madison CountyModerateInland flooding
Lee CountyModerateInland flooding
Forrest CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Lincoln CountyLow30
Adams CountyLow25
Amite CountyLow27
Wilkinson CountyVery Low30
Jefferson CountyVery Low24

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 $1.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $1 million.

How many federal disasters has Franklin County had?

Franklin County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026.

Is Franklin County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 74th highest of 82 in Mississippi. 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 21 tornadoes in Franklin County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on December 28, 2024 near Bude. The weather service has also logged 72 hail reports and 34 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Franklin County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 8 hurricanes and 26 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Franklin County. The strongest was Hurricane Camille (1969), with winds near 100 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.