Photo: Jb91archivist · CC BY-SA 3.0Storms, floods and disasters in Franklin
Franklin isn’t graded for hazard risk: Franklin has 435 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1978.
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
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.
Does Franklin flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Franklin, from FEMA’s records.
- Hurricane Fran2 claims · $6K
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: Pendleton County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Franklin
Disasters that paid out in Franklin itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Franklin), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$2K to the Town of Franklin for repairs
- 2012Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds$5K to the Town of Franklin for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$5K to the Town of Franklin for repairs
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides$3K to the Town of Franklin for repairs
Pendleton County has had 18 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 →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.
- 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
Does Franklin flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Franklin since 1978, $140K in all. The most claims came from Hurricane Fran (2).
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 Pendleton County, 6% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% 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 Straight-line Winds (2012): $5K to the Town of Franklin for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Fran: 2 paid, $6K.
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.