Franklin County, WA
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Franklin County has experienced 11 federally declared disasters since 1977, most recently Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding in 2022. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Franklin County's highest-rated hazards are heat wave, wildfire, and inland flooding, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is elevated (91st percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Franklin County has been designated in 11 declarations since 1977, covering 7 disaster types including flood (3), biological (2), severe storm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding |
| 2021 | Fire | Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Record And Near Record Snow |
| 2005 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1997 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Land & Muds Slides,Flooding |
| 1980 | Volcanic Eruption | Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. Helens |
| 1979 | Flood | Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 11 total declarations since 1977.
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 | Relatively Low | 84.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 83.5 | 2 | 0 | $3.0M |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 80.7 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 87.7 | 9 | 6 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 12.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 42.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 41.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 44.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | 78.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 65.5 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 45 | 1 | 0 | $12K |
| Drought | Very Low | 22.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 51.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 22.5 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 75.6 | — | — | — |
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 91st percentile (High) 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 | 91st | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 89th | High |
| Household characteristics | 87th | High |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 92nd | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 78th | High |
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 | 89th | Very High |
| Risk to homes | 86th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 22.1% | — |
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, Washington are heat wave, wildfire, and inland flooding. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Franklin County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Franklin County has received 11 federal disaster declarations since 1977, including declarations in 2022. The most common disaster type on record is flood (3 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 Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding in 2022.
How does Franklin County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Benton County, WA has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Garfield County, WA has the lowest (Very Low). Franklin County is rated Relatively 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 73 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 73% of US counties.