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Franklin County, Texas

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

Very Low overall risk
183rd of 254highest risk in Texas
$7Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 500homes with flood insurance
Photo: aidankinser, public domain

Franklin County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 75% of US counties. It ranks 183rd of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are tornadoes, inland flooding and ice storms. FEMA estimates about $6.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $658 per resident. Since 1998 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in April 2023 (severe winter storm). Only 10 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $326,000 on 13 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

Tornado

Moderate
$2.2 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.
$1.7 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • 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.
$648,952 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Trim branches that hang over the roof or power lines.
  • Plan for several days without power.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
TornadoModerate72.3
$2M
Inland floodingVery Low17.0
$2M
Ice stormHigh88.5
$649K
Cold waveLow36.3
$456K
Strong windLow49.4
$438K
HailLow67.7
$411K
DroughtModerate67.0
$352K
Heat waveLow50.5
$309K
HurricaneVery Low55.5
$103K
EarthquakeVery Low31.9
$74K
WildfireVery Low58.8
$63K
LightningVery Low15.2
$42K
Winter weatherLow28.5
$23K
LandslideVery Low18.8
$84

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 high 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

Fire5
Hurricane5
Severe Ice Storm3
Severe Storm2
Flood1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Apr 21, 2023Severe Winter StormMajor disaster
Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Aug 24, 2020Tropical Storms Marco and LauraEmergency
Feb 25, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 9, 2016Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 9, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Sep 10, 2008Hurricane IkeEmergency
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Show all 17
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Jan 8, 2001Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disaster
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster

Texas also had 106 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1961

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 252 storm reports in Franklin County since 1961, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries and about $3.8 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on March 26, 1961.

17tornadoes
96hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
114damaging thunderstorm winds
24floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 26, 1961F3–1 / 0
May 4, 1999F3Mt Vernon0 / 0
May 29, 2019EF2Scroggins0 / 0
Mar 4, 2025EF1Cypress0 / 0
May 14, 2008EF1Winnsboro0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Dec 12, 2015TornadoCypress$2M
Nov 14, 1993Thunderstorm WindGreenwood To$500K
Apr 25, 2011Thunderstorm WindMacon$250K
Oct 13, 2014Thunderstorm WindMt Vernon$250K
Mar 4, 2025TornadoCypress$250K
Mar 19, 2002Thunderstorm WindMt Vernon$100K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 24, 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 1902, 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Franklin County, 1 of them since 1950. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), with top winds near 50 mph about 61 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
4tropical storms
2008most recent: Ike

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 2008IkeTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph60 mi
Sep 20, 1947UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph48 mi
Jun 28, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Sep 13, 2008IkeTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi
Sep 20, 1947UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph48 mi
Aug 7, 1918UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph60 mi
Jun 28, 1902UnnamedTropical storm, 40 mph64 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 ›
0.2%of homes have federal flood insurance (10 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$326,267paid on 13 flood claims since 1978
2015costliest year, with $255,533 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

$226,300median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1988median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
34%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
11.8%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; 5,121 housing units.

Compare in Texas

All 254 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Harris CountyVery HighInland flooding
Dallas CountyVery HighInland flooding
Tarrant CountyHighInland flooding
Bexar CountyHighInland flooding
Travis CountyHighInland flooding
Collin CountyHighTornado
Denton CountyHighTornado
Hidalgo CountyHighHurricane

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Wood CountyLow14
Hopkins CountyLow19
Titus CountyLow19
Camp CountyVery Low13
Red River CountyLow24
Delta CountyVery Low16

Common questions about Franklin County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Franklin County?

Tornado has the highest expected yearly losses in Franklin County, about $2.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.7 million.

How many federal disasters has Franklin County had?

Franklin County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1998, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in April 2023.

Is Franklin County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 183rd highest of 254 in Texas. 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 500 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 17 tornadoes in Franklin County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on March 26, 1961. The weather service has also logged 96 hail reports and 24 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Franklin County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Franklin County. The strongest was Tropical Storm Ike (2008), with winds near 50 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.