Franklin County, North Carolina Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · NC
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 52th
Franklin County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 51.7, 52th national percentile), driven primarily by winter weather and drought exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $17M.
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 51.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 52nd 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.
Most of Franklin County's expected losses come from winter weather (heavy snow, blizzards, and hazardous winter conditions) at High risk — $358K in expected annual loss and about 6.37 events per year; drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $833K in expected annual loss and about 13.27 events per year; and hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $940K in expected annual loss and about 0.19 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $17M in expected annual loss for a population of 68K.
Beyond physical exposure, Franklin County has a low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
The federal record bears this out: Franklin County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including 11 for hurricane events and 3 for snowstorm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 100 North Carolina counties, Franklin County ranks #73 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Winter Weather | High | 6.37 / yr | $358K |
| Drought | Medium | 13.27 / yr | $833K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.19 / yr | $940K |
| Hail | Low | 3.85 / yr | $567K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.26 / yr | $3M |
| Lightning | Medium | 47.66 / yr | $501K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 6.47 / yr | $814K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 0.93 / yr | $671K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 0.68 / yr | $1M |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.79 / yr | $8M |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $341K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 1.37 / yr | $62K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $12K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.17 / yr | $110 |
| 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 23 federal disaster declarations since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (11), Snowstorm (3), Tropical Storm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| September 2024 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| August 2024 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 2022 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ian |
| August 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Isaias |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| September 2019 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
| September 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| October 2016 | Hurricane | Hurricane Matthew |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 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 51.7 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 52th 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 Winter Weather (High, $358K EAL), Drought (Medium, $833K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $940K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Franklin County compare to other North Carolina counties?
Franklin County ranks #73 of 100 North Carolina counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Franklin County had?
FEMA records 23 federal disaster declarations for Franklin County since 1977, most often 11 for hurricane events and 3 for snowstorm 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 $17M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.