Natural hazards · Franklin

Franklin, TN natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Franklin comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 243 claims here since 1978. 7 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Franklin?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Franklin to be higher than in 49% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding56%Earthquakes13%Cold waves13%Tornadoes11%Everything else7%

By hazard

What Franklin faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

56% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 64% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Earthquakes

13% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 78% of U.S. places

Cold waves

13% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 44% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Tornadoes

11% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 78% of U.S. places

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Franklin flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Franklin, from FEMA’s records.

243paid claims since 1978

$7.6Mpaid to owners

15homes flooded more than once

19782026

Biggest named events

Late spring storms: 126 claims, $6.0M
Heavy rains: 3 claims, $28K
Early winter storms: 1 claim, $6K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (7) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

🏷️ 10% off flood insurance. Franklin is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.

Insurance rates: Williamson County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

15flood-prone properties bought out and cleared

Disasters that hit Franklin

7 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Franklin itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Franklin.

Brought FEMA money into FranklinDeclared for Williamson County only

2026

Severe Winter Storm

74 households applied for aid $30K aid approved $497K to the City of Franklin for repairs

2021

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

110 households applied for aid $262K aid approved $98K to the City of Franklin for repairs

2010

Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes

1,568 households applied for aid $5.6M aid approved $624K to the City of Franklin for repairs

2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

27 households applied for aid $25K aid approved

2005

Hurricane Katrina Evacuation

$78K to the City of Franklin for repairs

2003

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

108 households applied for aid $79K aid approved $170K to the City of Franklin for repairs

1999

Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding

$17K to the City of Franklin for repairs

Williamson County has had 13 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and tornadoes.

Around Franklin

Franklin and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Franklinmostly inland floodingModerate

Brentwoodmostly inland floodingLow

Thompson's Stationmostly inland floodingLow

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Franklin covers 11 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Franklin’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Franklin. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Franklin total about $22.5M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); 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. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.