Photo: Generic1139 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Franklin Township as in 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: lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns, #733 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). Flood insurance has paid 426 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
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 90% 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.
B− #733 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania; lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Franklin Township’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Pennsylvania town has lower expected damage than 71% of U.S. towns; within the state, Franklin Township has more expected damage per building than 71% of Pennsylvania towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.7M a year in losses across Franklin Township: $2.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Franklin Township flood? Yes: 426 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Franklin Township, from FEMA’s records: 173.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Tropical Storm Ivan64 claims · $2.1M
- Tropical Storm Lee25 claims · $741K
- Hurricane Ida2 claims · $127K
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: Greene 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.
- 2018Severe Storms and Flooding$191K to Franklin Township for repairs28 flood claims paid that year
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding$1.2M to Franklin Township for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Tropical Storm Lee$104K to Franklin Township for repairs25 flood claims paid for it, $741K
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding$10K to Franklin Township for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides$19K to Franklin Township for repairs21 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms and Flooding$49K to Franklin Township for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
Show all 7
- 2004Tropical Depression Ivan$19K to Franklin Township for repairs64 flood claims paid for it, $2.1M
Greene County has had 12 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then winter storms. 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 has the lowest expected damage per building of the 5 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Township | B−less damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 426 |
| Jefferson Township | Cmore damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
| Center Township | Cmore damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Morgan Township | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Wayne Township | C−more damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Whiteley Township | — | 632 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Washington Township | — | 991 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
| Morris Township | — | 556 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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.
- 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 lower expected damage per building than 52% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #733 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Franklin Township flood?
Flood insurance has paid 426 claims in Franklin Township since 1978, $8.2M in all, or 173.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 98% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 65 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Tropical Storm Ivan (64).
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 Greene County, 14% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% 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, Severe Storms and Flooding (2016): $1.2M to Franklin Township for repairs. By flood claims, Tropical Storm Ivan: 64 paid, $2.1M.
Is Franklin Township at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), 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.