Photo: F Conrad · CC BY-SA 3.0On 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 C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #873 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%). Flood insurance has paid 17 claims here since 1990.
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 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
Tornadoes
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 84% of the building damage FEMA expects in Franklin Township, and Franklin Township’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 71% of U.S. census tracts).
C+ #873 of 993 in Ohio; higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Franklin Township’s residents live in 8 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Ohio town has lower expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Franklin Township has more expected damage per building than 88% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $10.2M a year in losses across Franklin Township: $7.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Franklin Township flood? Sometimes: 17 flood claims since 1990
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Franklin Township, from FEMA’s records: 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 73% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The March storm2 claims · $4K
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: Warren County.The storms Franklin Township remembers
None of the 10 disasters declared for Warren County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Franklin Township itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 20057 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
- 20082 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Wind Storm Associated with Tropical Depression Ike, declared for Warren County
- 19901 flood claims paidNo declaration for the county that year
Warren County has had 10 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
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 6th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turtlecreek Township | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Miami Township | A−less damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Clear Creek Township | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Springboro | B+less damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Franklin | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Franklin Township | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 17 |
| Madison Township | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| Middletown | C+more damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 60% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #873 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (84%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Franklin Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 17 claims in Franklin Township since 1990, $179K in all, or 1.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 73% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from March storm (2).
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 Warren County, 21% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% 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 flood claims, March storm: 2 paid, $4K.
Is Franklin Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (84%), and Franklin Township’s rate for it is higher than 76% 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.