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Franklin County, Missouri

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

Relatively Moderate overall risk
13th of 115highest risk in Missouri
$60Mexpected losses a year
22federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Franklin County, Missouri has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 84% of US counties. It ranks 13th of 115 counties in Missouri. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $60 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $570 per resident. Since 1973 it has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (15 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2025 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and wildfires). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (156 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $32 million on 1,097 claims here, including $10 million for floods in 2015.

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

Top risks in Franklin County

$31.6 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.

Tornado

Moderate
$6.7 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.
$6.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 250 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate85.4
$32M
TornadoModerate86.5
$7M
EarthquakeLow89.9
$6M
Heat waveModerate93.7
$6M
Cold waveModerate75.3
$3M
Strong windHigh93.9
$3M
HailModerate88.7
$2M
LightningModerate68.4
$546K
Ice stormModerate78.9
$440K
WildfireLow66.7
$158K
Winter weatherModerate68.0
$142K
LandslideModerate88.1
$53K
DroughtVery Low30.1
$30K
HurricaneVery Low18.3
$6K

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 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

Flood9
Severe Storm8
Severe Ice Storm3
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

May 21, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and WildfiresMajor disaster
Jun 2, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 21, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 2, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingEmergency
Jun 30, 2011FloodingEmergency
Feb 3, 2011Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergency
Mar 19, 2008Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergency
Jan 15, 2007Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 22
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
May 6, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
May 12, 2000Severe Thunderstorms and Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 2, 1995Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Hail, FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 1994Severe Storms, Tornadoes, FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 1, 1993Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 9, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Oct 14, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 10, 1982Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 24, 1976DroughtEmergency
Nov 1, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 19, 1973Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster

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

Storm history since 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 734 storm reports in Franklin County since 1953, with 6 deaths and 44 injuries and about $107 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on February 24, 1956.

35tornadoes
301hail reports, largest 4 inches
346damaging thunderstorm winds
47floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Feb 24, 1956F4–16 / 0
Mar 14, 2025EF2Villa Ridge1 / 0
Apr 7, 1980F2–0 / 0
Dec 2, 1982F2–2 / 0
Mar 25, 1954F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 7, 2000Flash FloodCountywide$100M
Dec 27, 2015FloodBerger$2M
Mar 14, 2025TornadoVilla Ridge$2M
Sep 13, 1993TornadoBeaufort To$505K
Apr 15, 1994TornadoNew Haven$501K
Apr 15, 1994Thunderstorm WindNew Haven$500K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 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 1923, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Franklin County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1923, with top winds near 40 mph about 59 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1923most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 17, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph59 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 17, 1923UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph59 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 ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (156 policies)
13.9%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$32.2 millionpaid on 1,097 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $10.2 million 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

$227,600median home value (Missouri $230,300, US $332,700)
1984median year homes were built (Missouri 1978, US 1980)
44%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
9%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; 46,312 housing units.

Compare in Missouri

All 115 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
St. Louis CountyHighHeat wave
Jackson CountyHighInland flooding
St. Charles CountyModerateInland flooding
St. Louis CityHighHeat wave
Greene CountyModerateInland flooding
Clay CountyModerateInland flooding
Jefferson CountyModerateInland flooding
Boone CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
St. Louis CountyHigh32
St. Charles CountyModerate26
Jefferson CountyModerate28
Warren CountyLow15
Washington CountyLow26
Crawford CountyLow22
Gasconade CountyVery Low19

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 $31.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $6.7 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 1973, including 15 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Wildfires in May 2025.

Is Franklin County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 13th highest of 115 in Missouri. 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 35 tornadoes in Franklin County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on February 24, 1956. The weather service has also logged 301 hail reports and 47 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Franklin County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Franklin County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1923, with winds near 40 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.