Franklin Parish, Louisiana Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · LA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 36th
Franklin Parish faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 35.9, 36th national percentile), driven primarily by drought and heat wave exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $8M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Franklin Parish carries a very low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 35.9 out of 100 — placing it in the 36th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $889K in expected annual loss and about 23.27 events per year; heat wave (prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure) at Low risk — $775K in expected annual loss and about 19.05 events per year; and hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $552K in expected annual loss and about 0.06 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $8M in expected annual loss for a population of 20K.
Beyond physical exposure, Franklin Parish has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a medium 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 Parish has received 42 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 18 for hurricane events and 8 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 64 Louisiana counties, Franklin Parish ranks #48 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Drought | Medium | 23.27 / yr | $889K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 19.05 / yr | $775K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.06 / yr | $552K |
| Hail | Low | 3.13 / yr | $407K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.56 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 3.11 / yr | $558K |
| Ice Storm | Medium | 0.94 / yr | $102K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $232K |
| Lightning | Low | 69.33 / yr | $138K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.25 / yr | $2M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.84 / yr | $225K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $6K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.10 / yr | $38 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 2.11 / yr | $4K |
| 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 Parish has received 42 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (18), Flood (8), Severe Storm (6).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2024 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Francine |
| September 2021 | Coastal Storm | Tropical Storm Nicholas |
| August 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| August 2021 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Ida |
| March 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| February 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Zeta |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Delta |
Showing the 10 most recent of 42 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Franklin Parish?
Franklin Parish has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 35.9 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 36th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Franklin Parish?
The three highest-rated hazards are Drought (Medium, $889K EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $775K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $552K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Franklin Parish compare to other Louisiana counties?
Franklin Parish ranks #48 of 64 Louisiana counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Franklin Parish had?
FEMA records 42 federal disaster declarations for Franklin Parish since 1965, most often 18 for hurricane events and 8 for flood events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, declared in February 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 Parish's $8M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.