Photo: User:Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Franklin than in 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Franklin gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #95 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 2003.
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 Franklin faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Hurricanes
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
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Franklin, and Franklin’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 7% of U.S. census tracts.
C #95 of 126 in New Hampshire; higher expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Franklin’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical New Hampshire town has higher expected damage than 58% of U.S. towns; within the state, Franklin has more expected damage per building than 75% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.0M a year in losses across Franklin: $2.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Franklin flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 2003
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Franklin, from FEMA’s records: 1.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 69% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
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: Merrimack County.10 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.
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$41K to the City of Franklin for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$2K to the City of Franklin for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm$4K to the City of Franklin for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$19K to the City of Franklin for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding3 households applied for aid$1K aid approved
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding9 households applied for aid$3K aid approved$34K to the City of Franklin for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Show all 10
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$2K aid approved$72K to the City of Franklin for repairs
- 2003Snow$14K to the City of Franklin for repairs
- 2003Snow$4K to the City of Franklin for repairs
- 2001Snow$11K to the City of Franklin for repairs
Merrimack County has had 24 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
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 →Franklin and its neighbors
Franklin is 6th of the 7 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boscawen | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Sanbornton | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Tilton | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Salisbury | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Andover | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Franklin | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Northfield | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Tilton Northfield | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 74% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #95 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%) and hurricanes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Franklin flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Franklin since 2003, $102K in all, or 1.5 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 69% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
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 Merrimack County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.8% 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, Severe Storms and Flooding (2005): 2 households applied for aid, $2K approved, and $72K to the City of Franklin for repairs.
Is Franklin at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Franklin’s rate for it is higher than 85% 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.