Photo: Piccor at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Franklin’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 94% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Franklin gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns, #85 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (83%). Flood insurance has paid 411 claims here since 1978.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Franklin’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Franklin faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hurricanes
River and rain flooding
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Franklin’s grade
Hurricanes are 83% of the building damage FEMA expects in Franklin, and Franklin’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 5%, at a rate in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
D #85 of 162 in Louisiana; higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Franklin’s residents live in 6 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Louisiana town has higher expected damage than 92% of U.S. towns; within the state, Franklin has more expected damage per building than 52% of Louisiana towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.8M a year in losses across Franklin: $5.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Franklin flood? Yes: 411 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Franklin, from FEMA’s records: 141.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike105 claims · $2.9M
- Hurricane Rita61 claims · $1.8M
- Hurricane Andrew22 claims · $273K
Franklin isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: St. Mary Parish.13 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Franklin
Disasters that paid out in Franklin itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Franklin), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Francine1,489 households applied for aid$4.8M aid approved$28K to the City of Franklin for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Hurricane Ida1,840 households applied for aid$1.6M aid approved3 flood claims paid that year
- 2019Hurricane Barry$249K to the City of Franklin for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding1 households applied for aid$6K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2012Hurricane Isaac711 households applied for aid$919K aid approved$71K to the City of Franklin for repairs
- 2011Flooding$267K to the City of Franklin for repairs
Show all 13
- 2008Hurricane Ike984 households applied for aid$2.1M aid approved$244K to the City of Franklin for repairs105 flood claims paid for it, $2.9M
- 2008Hurricane Gustav2,460 households applied for aid$2.3M aid approved$395K to the City of Franklin for repairs14 flood claims paid for it, $273K
- 2005Hurricane Rita3,421 households applied for aid$4.9M aid approved$252K to the City of Franklin for repairs61 flood claims paid for it, $1.8M
- 2005Hurricane Katrina993 households applied for aid$2.0M aid approved$198K to the City of Franklin for repairs
- 2002Hurricane Lili$452K to the City of Franklin for repairs19 flood claims paid for it, $122K
- 2002Tropical Storm Isidore$16K to the City of Franklin for repairs
- 2001Tropical Storm Allison$9K to the City of Franklin for repairs17 flood claims paid for it, $80K
St. Mary Parish has had 34 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then floods.
Old photos of Franklin after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Franklin archive →Get ready for what Franklin faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Franklin
Is Franklin at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Franklin has higher expected damage per building than 94% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #85 of 162 in Louisiana. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (83%) and river and rain flooding (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Franklin flood?
Flood insurance has paid 411 claims in Franklin since 1978, $6.8M in all, or 141.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 60 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (105).
Is Franklin in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In St. Mary Parish, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 12.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Franklin?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Franklin’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Franklin?
By FEMA money that reached Franklin, Hurricane Rita (2005): 3,421 households applied for aid, $4.9M approved, and $252K to the City of Franklin for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 105 paid, $2.9M.
Is Franklin at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (83%), and Franklin’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Franklin.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Franklin’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.