Franklin County, Pennsylvania Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · PA
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 76th
Franklin County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 76.4, 76th national percentile), driven primarily by hurricane and riverine flood exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $38M.
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 76.4 out of 100 — placing it in the 76th 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 hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Medium risk — $4M in expected annual loss and about 0.07 events per year; riverine flood (rivers and streams overflowing their banks after heavy rain or snowmelt) at Medium risk — $26M in expected annual loss and about 1.89 events per year; and strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 5.34 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $38M in expected annual loss for a population of 156K.
Beyond physical exposure, Franklin County has a low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). A less vulnerable population paired with strong resilience helps the community absorb and recover from events.
History supports the rating: Franklin County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including 6 for flood events and 4 for snowstorm events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in March 2020.
Among 67 Pennsylvania counties, Franklin County ranks #29 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Hurricane | Medium | 0.07 / yr | $4M |
| Riverine Flood | Medium | 1.89 / yr | $26M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 5.34 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 12.47 / yr | $237K |
| Drought | Medium | 0.92 / yr | $928K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.56 / yr | $10K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 4.26 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Medium | 36.94 / yr | $360K |
| Hail | Low | 2.68 / yr | $398K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $54K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $505 |
| Tornado | Low | 0.39 / yr | $1M |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.48 / yr | $46K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 1.37 / yr | $252K |
| 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 20 federal disaster declarations since 1972, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in March 2020. Most frequent causes: Flood (6), Snowstorm (4), Hurricane (4).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| March 2016 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| January 2013 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| October 2012 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| September 2011 | Flood | Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee |
| April 2010 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms |
| June 2006 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| September 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| September 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding Associated with Tropical Depression Frances |
Showing the 10 most recent of 20 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 76.4 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 76th 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 (Medium, $4M EAL), Riverine Flood (Medium, $26M EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Franklin County compare to other Pennsylvania counties?
Franklin County ranks #29 of 67 Pennsylvania counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Franklin County had?
FEMA records 20 federal disaster declarations for Franklin County since 1972, most often 6 for flood events and 4 for snowstorm events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic, declared in March 2020.
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 $38M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.