Franklin City, Virginia
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Franklin City, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 92% of US counties. It ranks 113th of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are hurricanes, inland flooding and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $3.0 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $370 per resident. Since 1993 it has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 20 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $5.0 million on 106 claims here, including $3.9 million for floods in 2006.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Franklin City
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | 78.8 | $1M | ||
| Inland flooding | 11.8 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 19.9 | $175K | ||
| Heat wave | 34.5 | $131K | ||
| Earthquake | 36.5 | $93K | ||
| Strong wind | 14.0 | $87K | ||
| Cold wave | 11.6 | $77K | ||
| Lightning | 13.4 | $35K | ||
| Winter weather | 40.6 | $35K | ||
| Ice storm | 25.8 | $18K | ||
| Hail | 8.0 | $18K | ||
| Wildfire | 2.1 | $605 | ||
| Coastal flooding | 16.6 | $2 | ||
| Landslide | 0.9 | $1 |
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 City. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 12
Virginia also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1984
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 74 storm reports in Franklin City since 1984 and about $5.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF0 tornado on September 26, 2008 near Franklin.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2008 | EF0 | Franklin | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 7, 2006 | Flash Flood | Franklin | $5M |
| Oct 8, 2016 | Flood | Franklin | $450K |
| Aug 20, 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Franklin | $100K |
| Feb 6, 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sago | $10K |
| May 22, 2025 | Hail | Franklin | $10K |
| Jul 10, 2014 | Hail | Franklin | $5K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through May 22, 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.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane risk by county ›Since 1851, 10 hurricanes and 41 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Franklin City, 24 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1879, with top winds near 105 mph about 64 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 18, 1879 | Unnamed | Category 2, 105 mph | 64 mi |
| Oct 23, 1878 | Unnamed | Category 2, 100 mph | 30 mi |
| Aug 12, 1955 | Connie | Category 1, 90 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 18, 2003 | Isabel | Category 1, 85 mph | 55 mi |
| Aug 23, 1933 | Unnamed | Category 1, 85 mph | 61 mi |
| Aug 17, 1986 | Charley | Category 1, 80 mph | 65 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 23, 2023 | Ophelia | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 59 mi |
| Jul 9, 2021 | Elsa | Tropical storm, 55 mph | 46 mi |
| Jun 21, 2021 | Claudette | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 59 mi |
| Aug 4, 2020 | Isaias | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 36 mi |
| Aug 27, 2011 | Irene | Category 1, 75 mph | 64 mi |
| Sep 6, 2008 | Hanna | Tropical storm, 50 mph | 43 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 City
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 City
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; 3,910 housing units.
Compare in Virginia
All 133 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Fairfax County | Inland flooding | |
| Prince William County | Inland flooding | |
| Virginia Beach City | Hurricane | |
| Loudoun County | Inland flooding | |
| Chesterfield County | Inland flooding | |
| Henrico County | Inland flooding | |
| Chesapeake City | Inland flooding | |
| Arlington County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Isle of Wight County | 18 | |
| Southampton County | 11 |
Common questions about Franklin City
What is the biggest natural hazard in Franklin City?
Hurricane has the highest expected yearly losses in Franklin City, about $1.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $1.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Franklin City had?
Franklin City has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1993, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.
Is Franklin City a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 113th highest of 133 in Virginia. 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 City?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Franklin City 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 City had?
NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Franklin City since 1950. The strongest was an EF0 tornado on September 26, 2008 near Franklin. The weather service has also logged 13 hail reports and 9 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Franklin City?
NOAA's hurricane records show 10 hurricanes and 41 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Franklin City. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1879, with winds near 105 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 city, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.