Franklin County, Nebraska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
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
- Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
- Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
- Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
- Have trees near the house checked.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 96.4 | $3M | ||
| Strong wind | 93.4 | $2M | ||
| Drought | 90.4 | $1M | ||
| Inland flooding | 9.5 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 32.3 | $497K | ||
| Lightning | 41.8 | $148K | ||
| Ice storm | 64.9 | $142K | ||
| Winter weather | 60.7 | $79K | ||
| Heat wave | 19.1 | $49K | ||
| Cold wave | 6.7 | $31K | ||
| Wildfire | 40.6 | $23K | ||
| Earthquake | 5.4 | $5K | ||
| Landslide | 11.3 | $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
Most recent
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.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 10, 1985 | F4 | – | 1 / 0 |
| Jun 24, 1969 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 4, 1985 | F1 | – | 0 / 0 |
| May 2, 1999 | F1 | Macon | 0 / 0 |
| May 26, 2019 | EF1 | Macon | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 18, 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hildreth | $21M |
| May 5, 2023 | Hail | Franklin | $4M |
| Jul 7, 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Various Locations | $3M |
| Jun 14, 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Upland | $3M |
| Jun 29, 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Naponee | $3M |
| Jun 29, 2023 | Hail | Naponee | $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 ›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
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 counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Douglas County | Inland flooding | |
| Lancaster County | Tornado | |
| Sarpy County | Tornado | |
| Hall County | Inland flooding | |
| Buffalo County | Hail | |
| Dodge County | Inland flooding | |
| Scotts Bluff County | Hail | |
| Madison County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Phelps County | 12 | |
| Kearney County | 14 | |
| Phillips County, KS | 17 | |
| Smith County, KS | 14 | |
| Webster County | 14 | |
| Harlan County | 12 |
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.