Franklin County Disaster Risk
Franklin County, Massachusetts
FEMA Risk Rating
Relatively Low
National Percentile
61th
of 3,144 counties
State Rank
#12
of 14 (1 = highest risk)
Flood Risk
74th
percentile
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Flood
River, coastal, and surface flooding risk
Relatively Low
Higher than 74% of US counties
Wildfire
Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk
Very Low
Higher than 37% of US counties
Tornado
Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk
Very Low
Higher than 32% of US counties
Earthquake
Seismic activity and ground shaking risk
Relatively Low
Higher than 59% of US counties
Hurricane
Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk
Relatively Low
Higher than 79% of US counties
Risk Overview
About Natural Disaster Risk in Franklin County, Massachusetts
Franklin enjoys below-average national risk
Franklin County's composite risk score of 60.72 sits meaningfully below the national average, placing it in the relatively low risk tier. While not risk-free, Franklin residents face measurably less disaster exposure than Americans in higher-risk regions. The score reflects Franklin's inland, rural position and distance from major coastal hazard zones.
Second-safest county in Massachusetts
Franklin County ranks second-safest among Massachusetts counties with a 60.72 composite score, significantly below the state average of 78.84. Only Dukes County (16.79) offers greater protection from disaster hazards. Franklin's inland position and lower population density translate directly into reduced composite risk.
Notably safer than nearly all coastal areas
Franklin's 60.72 score runs substantially lower than neighboring Hampshire (69.88), Berkshire (84.00), and every coastal county in the state. The protection gap widens dramatically versus Essex (95.58), Hampden (92.78), Bristol (89.85), and Barnstable (89.09). Franklin's inland, western location provides meaningful shelter from Atlantic hazards.
Floods and hurricanes merit attention
Franklin residents face the most meaningful risks from flooding (73.51) and hurricanes (78.64), both in the 70s range. Earthquake (58.75) and wildfire (36.99) risks remain moderate, while tornado risk (31.58) is notably low. Inland rivers and residual Atlantic storm systems represent your primary hazard exposure.
Flood coverage pairs with standard insurance
Given flood risk of 73.51, securing federal flood insurance should be your priority, particularly if you live near rivers, streams, or mapped flood zones. Standard homeowners insurance combined with flood coverage provides solid protection for Franklin residents. Your relatively low disaster risk compared to coastal counties means you can focus resources efficiently on these two primary threats.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor
Preparedness Guide
What to Prepare for in Franklin County
Top Hazards by Exposure
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)
Risk Advisory: Franklin County
Risk Verdict
Franklin County has a below-average natural disaster risk profile, scoring at the 61th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Households in Franklin County benefit from knowing which individual hazard types — flood, wildfire, tornado, or hurricane — are the primary contributors.
Hazard Breakdown
Hurricane risk is Franklin County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 79th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Flood ranks second at the 74th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include earthquake (59th percentile), wildfire (37th percentile), tornado (32th percentile).
Preparedness Context
Hurricane risk is Franklin County's top-ranked natural hazard at the 79th percentile nationally. The most time-sensitive preparedness step is knowing the county's evacuation zone for your address — zone maps are published by the county emergency management office. Flood, the county's second-ranked hazard at the 74th percentile nationally, represents an additional preparedness consideration for Franklin County independent of hurricane season. Franklin County's county emergency management office publishes official evacuation zone maps with zone-specific shelter locations; downloading this map and identifying your zone assignment is the single highest-value pre-season step.
Regional Context
The Massachusetts county average exceeds Franklin County's score by 18.1 composite points — placing this county in the lower-risk tier relative to its in-state peers.
Is your household prepared for Franklin County's hazards?
Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the natural disaster risk in Franklin County, MA?
What types of natural hazards affect Franklin County?
How does Franklin County risk compare to the Massachusetts average?
Is Franklin County at risk for hurricane?
How is natural disaster risk measured?
Is Franklin County a safe place to live?
Data Source
Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.
Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.