Franklin County, Arkansas Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AR
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 49th
Franklin County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 49.4, 49th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and heat wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Franklin County at low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 49.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 49th national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in ice storm (freezing rain that coats surfaces in heavy, damaging ice) at High risk — $811K in expected annual loss and about 1.62 events per year; heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Medium risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 23.74 events per year; and wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Low risk — $327K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $10M in expected annual loss for a population of 17K.
Beyond physical exposure, Franklin County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Franklin County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including 13 for severe storm events and 4 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 75 Arkansas counties, Franklin County ranks #46 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Ice Storm | High | 1.62 / yr | $811K |
| Heat Wave | Medium | 23.74 / yr | $1M |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $327K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 8.05 / yr | $88K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.42 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Medium | 60.88 / yr | $240K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $318K |
| Drought | Low | 15.28 / yr | $152K |
| Hail | Low | 5.89 / yr | $191K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 2.25 / yr | $4M |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $34K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.05 / yr | $490K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.46 / yr | $356 |
| Strong Wind | Low | 4.64 / yr | $180K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Franklin County has received 27 federal disaster declarations since 1972, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (13), Flood (4), Severe Ice Storm (4).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Laura |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| June 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| May 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| February 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| June 2015 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| January 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
Showing the 10 most recent of 27 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Franklin County?
Franklin County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 49.4 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 49th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Franklin County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (High, $811K EAL), Heat Wave (Medium, $1M EAL), Wildfire (Low, $327K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Franklin County compare to other Arkansas counties?
Franklin County ranks #46 of 75 Arkansas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Franklin County had?
FEMA records 27 federal disaster declarations for Franklin County since 1972, most often 13 for severe storm events and 4 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, declared in January 2026.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Franklin County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.