Photo: Richard Arthur Norton (1958- ) at English Wikipedia · CC BY 2.5On FEMA’s figures, Franklin Township faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Franklin Township gets a B− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns, #226 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%). Flood insurance has paid 188 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 Township’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Franklin Township 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
Earthquakes
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 Township’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Franklin Township, and Franklin Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 7% (higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts).
B− #226 of 468 in New Jersey; higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Franklin Township’s residents live in 12 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical New Jersey town has higher expected damage than 56% of U.S. towns; within the state, Franklin Township has less expected damage per building than 52% of New Jersey towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $23.3M a year in losses across Franklin Township: $19.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Franklin Township flood? Yes: 188 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Franklin Township, from FEMA’s records: 6.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ida46 claims · $3.8M
- Hurricane Irene37 claims · $2.2M
- The April 2007 nor’easter23 claims · $469K
Franklin Township isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Somerset County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Franklin Township
Disasters that paid out in Franklin Township itself (aid to households or repair grants to Franklin Township), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Storm$14K to Franklin Township for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$6K to Franklin Township for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Hurricane Irene$26K to Franklin Township for repairs37 flood claims paid for it, $2.2M
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding$5K to Franklin Township for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$11K to Franklin Township for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$39K to Franklin Township for repairs
Show all 7
- 2009Snowstorm$45K to Franklin Township for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Somerset County has had 22 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Franklin Township after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Franklin Township archive →Franklin Township and its neighbors
Franklin Township is 3rd of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Brunswick Township | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 42 |
| Hillsborough Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 196 |
| Franklin Township | B−more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 188 |
| Montgomery Township | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 115 |
| New Brunswick | C−more damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 82 |
| East Rocky Hill | — | 235 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Griggstown | — | 812 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| East Franklin | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Weston | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Kingston | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Somerset | — | 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 Township 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Township
Is Franklin Township at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Franklin Township has higher expected damage per building than 55% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #226 of 468 in New Jersey. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and earthquakes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Franklin Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 188 claims in Franklin Township since 1978, $7.8M in all, or 6.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 67% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 29 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ida (46).
Is Franklin Township 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 Somerset County, 53% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Franklin Township?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Franklin Township’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 Township?
By FEMA money that reached Franklin Township, Snowstorm (2009): $45K to Franklin Township for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ida: 46 paid, $3.8M.
Is Franklin Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Franklin Township’s rate for it is higher than 70% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Franklin Township.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Franklin Township’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.