Franklin County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 17th
Franklin County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 17.3, 17th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $4M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Franklin County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 17.3 out of 100 — placing it in the 17th 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $373K in expected annual loss and about 0.12 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $2K in expected annual loss and about 0.85 events per year; and tornado (violently rotating columns of air capable of catastrophic local damage) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.60 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $4M in expected annual loss for a population of 8K.
Beyond physical exposure, Franklin County 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.
History supports the rating: Franklin County has received 25 federal disaster declarations since 1965, including 11 for hurricane events and 6 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (severe storm), declared in June 2026.
Among 82 Mississippi counties, Franklin County ranks #74 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Low | 0.12 / yr | $373K |
| Landslide | Low | 0.85 / yr | $2K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.60 / yr | $1M |
| Heat Wave | Low | 15.32 / yr | $313K |
| Hail | Low | 3.09 / yr | $158K |
| Drought | Low | 12.35 / yr | $64K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $18K |
| Strong Wind | Low | 2.61 / yr | $252K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.91 / yr | $27K |
| Lightning | Low | 76.47 / yr | $84K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $36K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.89 / yr | $2M |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.68 / yr | $131K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 1.95 / yr | $2K |
| 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 25 federal disaster declarations since 1965, most recently Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in June 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (11), Severe Storm (6), Winter Storm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| February 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| August 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes. |
| October 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| August 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| May 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| October 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Delta |
| September 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura |
Showing the 10 most recent of 25 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 17.3 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 17th 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 Hurricane (Low, $373K EAL), Landslide (Low, $2K EAL), Tornado (Low, $1M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Franklin County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Franklin County ranks #74 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Franklin County had?
FEMA records 25 federal disaster declarations for Franklin County since 1965, most often 11 for hurricane events and 6 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, declared in June 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 $4M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.