Franklin County, TX
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Franklin County has experienced 20 federally declared disasters since 1998, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2023. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Franklin County's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, tornado, and hail, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 53% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Franklin County has been designated in 20 declarations since 1998, covering 8 disaster types including fire (5), hurricane (5), severe ice storm (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020 | Hurricane | Tropical Storms Marco And Laura |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Flood | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2011 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2011 | Fire | Wildfires |
Showing the 10 most recent of 20 total declarations since 1998.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 58.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 17 | 7 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 31.9 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 50.5 | 67 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 72.3 | 4 | 0 | $375K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 55.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 67.7 | 23 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 49.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 28.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 88.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 36.3 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 15.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 67 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 18.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Franklin County ranks in the 38th percentile (Low) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 38th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 39th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 80th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 58th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 10th | Very low |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 71st | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 67th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 83.4% | — |
NOAA tracked 101 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 40 in 2016–20 vs 61 in 2021–25 (+53% — frequency increasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Franklin County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Franklin County, Texas are ice storm, tornado, and hail. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Franklin County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Franklin County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1998, including declarations in 2023. The most common disaster type on record is fire (5 declarations).
Has Franklin County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Franklin County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Winter Storm in 2023.
How does Franklin County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Hopkins County, TX has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Delta County, TX has the lowest (Very Low). Franklin County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Franklin County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Franklin County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Franklin County's composite score of 25 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 25% of US counties.