Franklin County, Virginia Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · VA
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 43th
Franklin County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 42.7, 43th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and strong wind exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $11M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Franklin County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 42.7 out of 100 — placing it in the 43rd 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 landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $12K in expected annual loss and about 1.69 events per year; strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at Medium risk — $862K in expected annual loss and about 3.30 events per year; and hurricane (tropical cyclones bringing extreme wind, rain, and storm surge) at Low risk — $445K in expected annual loss and about 0.06 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $11M in expected annual loss for a population of 54K.
Beyond physical exposure, Franklin County has a high 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). 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 22 federal disaster declarations since 1972, including 6 for hurricane events and 5 for severe storm events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in January 2026.
Among 133 Virginia counties, Franklin County ranks #49 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Low | 1.69 / yr | $12K |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 3.30 / yr | $862K |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.06 / yr | $445K |
| Drought | Medium | 7.82 / yr | $362K |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 2.36 / yr | $8M |
| Lightning | Medium | 44.26 / yr | $252K |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $296K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 8.74 / yr | $63K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $431 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $19K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 1.16 / yr | $38K |
| Hail | Low | 4.34 / yr | $120K |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.16 / yr | $362K |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.68 / yr | $82K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.15 / yr | $163K |
| 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 22 federal disaster declarations since 1972, most recently Severe Winter Storm in January 2026. Most frequent causes: Hurricane (6), Severe Storm (5), Flood (3).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| May 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| December 2018 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Michael |
| October 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| September 2018 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| October 2012 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sandy |
| July 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds |
Showing the 10 most recent of 22 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 42.7 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 43th 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 Landslide (Low, $12K EAL), Strong Wind (Medium, $862K EAL), Hurricane (Low, $445K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Franklin County compare to other Virginia counties?
Franklin County ranks #49 of 133 Virginia counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Franklin County had?
FEMA records 22 federal disaster declarations for Franklin County since 1972, most often 6 for hurricane events and 5 for severe storm 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 $11M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.