Home › Nebraska › Franklin County

Franklin County, Nebraska

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

Very Low overall risk
26th of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$9Mexpected losses a year
8federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0

Franklin County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 68% of US counties. It ranks 26th of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are hail, strong wind and drought. FEMA estimates about $8.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $3,073 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in March 2019 (severe winter storm, straight-line winds and flooding). Only 3 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

Hail

High
$3.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$2.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.

Drought

Moderate
$1.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 45 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
HailHigh96.4
$3M
Strong windHigh93.4
$2M
DroughtModerate90.4
$1M
Inland floodingVery Low9.5
$1M
TornadoLow32.3
$497K
LightningLow41.8
$148K
Ice stormModerate64.9
$142K
Winter weatherLow60.7
$79K
Heat waveVery Low19.1
$49K
Cold waveVery Low6.7
$31K
WildfireVery Low40.6
$23K
EarthquakeVery Low5.4
$5K
LandslideVery Low11.3
$29

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 moderate 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

Severe Storm4
Flood3
Hurricane1

Most recent

Mar 21, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 24, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
May 25, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Nov 1, 1997Severe Snow Storms, Rain, and Strong WindsMajor disaster
Jul 19, 1993Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 18, 1967Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Nebraska also had 14 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1953

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 329 storm reports in Franklin County since 1953, with 0 deaths and 1 injury and about $74.2 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on May 10, 1985.

31tornadoes
186hail reports, largest 4 inches
83damaging thunderstorm winds
8floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 10, 1985F4–1 / 0
Jun 24, 1969F2–0 / 0
Sep 4, 1985F1–0 / 0
May 2, 1999F1Macon0 / 0
May 26, 2019EF1Macon0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jun 18, 2011Thunderstorm WindHildreth$21M
May 5, 2023HailFranklin$4M
Jul 7, 1996Thunderstorm WindVarious Locations$3M
Jun 14, 2014Thunderstorm WindUpland$3M
Jun 29, 2023Thunderstorm WindNaponee$3M
Jun 29, 2023HailNaponee$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 18, 2025. 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 (3 policies)
3.8%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$1,858paid on 2 flood claims since 1978
1980costliest year, with $1,068 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

$95,600median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1940median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
87%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
4.6%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; 1,531 housing units.

Compare in Nebraska

All 93 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Douglas CountyHighInland flooding
Lancaster CountyModerateTornado
Sarpy CountyModerateTornado
Hall CountyLowInland flooding
Buffalo CountyLowHail
Dodge CountyLowInland flooding
Scotts Bluff CountyLowHail
Madison CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Phelps CountyVery Low12
Kearney CountyVery Low14
Phillips County, KSVery Low17
Smith County, KSVery Low14
Webster CountyLow14
Harlan CountyVery Low12

Common questions about Franklin County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Franklin County?

Hail has the highest expected yearly losses in Franklin County, about $3.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $2.2 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 1967, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding in March 2019.

Is Franklin County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 26th highest of 93 in Nebraska. 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 31 tornadoes in Franklin County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on May 10, 1985. The weather service has also logged 186 hail reports and 8 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.