Franklin County, Iowa
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 19069 · population 10,019 · 582 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 602 records for Franklin County, Iowa from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 405 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (142 records). The most damaging was the June 19, 2014 flash flood ($31.2 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 22 declarations naming the county since 1965, 20 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding” on May 24, 2024.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 602on 405 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 01 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $225Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 30strongest F5
- FEMA declarations
- 22latest 2024
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Franklin County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 142 since 1961. 50% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1961 fell in May and June. The rank column places the county among Iowa's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 142 | 85 | 1961-2025 | 0 | 0 | $3.3M | 69 of 99 |
| Hail | 125 | 71 | 1961-2025 | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | 72 of 99 |
| Winter storms | 98 | 95 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2.8M | 50 of 99 |
| Floods | 63 | 44 | 1997-2024 | 0 | 0 | $66M | 62 of 99 |
| High wind and dust storms | 43 | 43 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 1 | $2.4M | 22 of 99 |
| Extreme cold | 37 | 37 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $9.4M | 17 of 99 |
| Tornadoes | 30 | 19 | 1959-2023 | 0 | 0 | $9.0M | 86 of 99 |
| Drought | 28 | 28 | 2001-2024 | 0 | 0 | $131M | 50 of 99 |
| Heavy rain | 18 | 15 | 2013-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 52 of 99 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 14 | 10 | 2010-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 41 of 99 |
| Heat | 4 | 4 | 2001-2019 | 0 | 0 | $177K | 83 of 99 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Franklin County had?
NOAA records 30 tornadoes in Franklin County from 1959 to 2023, the strongest rated F5, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 29 tornadoes whose track touched Franklin County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 30: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 13 people, 0 of them in Franklin County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968-05-15 15:10, as SPC files it | Charles City | F5 | 62.1 mi | 13 |
| 1990-06-28 12:09, as SPC files it | Ackley | F3 | 9 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Iowa.
Every tornado record filed for Franklin County (30)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-07-28 | Burdette, Franklin County | EF1 1.82 mi x 125 yd | 0 | 0 | $69K |
| 2023-07-28 | Popejoy, Franklin County | EF1 2.81 mi x 120 yd | 0 | 0 | $59K |
| 2021-12-15 | Geneva, Franklin County | EF2 7.49 mi x 90 yd | 0 | 0 | $272K |
| 2021-12-15 | Chapin, Franklin County | EF1 6.01 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $109K |
| 2021-12-15 | Bradford, Franklin County | EF1 15.59 mi x 140 yd | 0 | 0 | $11K |
| 2021-12-15 | Burdette, Franklin County | EF1 10.28 mi x 125 yd | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2021-12-15 | Alexander, Franklin County | EFU 5.28 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-08-31 | Oakland, Franklin County | EF0 2.41 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2014-06-16 | Alexander, Franklin County | EF1 2.17 mi x 175 yd | 0 | 0 | $34K |
| 2013-06-12 | Beeds Lake Airport, Franklin County | EF0 1.26 mi x 125 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2013-06-12 | Beeds Lake Airport, Franklin County | EF0 1.11 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 2013-06-12 | Latimer, Franklin County | EF1 3.43 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $65K |
| 2013-06-12 | Alexander, Franklin County | EF2 5.2 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $393K |
| 2010-07-16 | Chapin, Franklin County | EF0 0.58 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2006-09-02 | Dows, Franklin County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2006-09-02 | Sheffield, Franklin County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2006-09-02 | Coulter, Franklin County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2004-08-16 | Bradford, Franklin County | F0 0.5 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 1999-06-06 | Dows, Franklin County | F1 11.5 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $19K |
| 1992-07-13 | Franklin County | F1 0.5 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1991-06-14 | Franklin County | F1 0.5 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1990-06-28 | Franklin County | F3 7 mi x 90 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1989-05-25 | Franklin County | F0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1974-06-03 | Franklin County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1969-06-26 | Franklin County | F1 2 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1968-05-15 | Franklin County | F5 14.7 mi x 600 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1964-05-23 | Franklin County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1960-08-28 | Franklin County | F0 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1960-08-28 | Franklin County | F1 1 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1959-05-10 | Franklin County | F2 6.5 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Franklin County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 18, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($15,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-19 | Heavy SnowFranklin County · forecast zone Franklin | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-16 | HailHansell, Franklin County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-09-16 | HailHampton, Franklin County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-15 | Thunderstorm WindHampton, Franklin County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-19 | HailOakland, Franklin County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-10 | Funnel CloudAlexander, Franklin County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindHansell, Franklin County | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-28 | Funnel CloudAlexander, Franklin County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-04-18 | HailSheffield, Franklin County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-18 | Thunderstorm WindChapin, Franklin County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2025-04-18 | HailHampton, Franklin County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-18 | HailHampton, Franklin County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-10-27 | High WindFranklin County · forecast zone Franklin Intense low pressure that was over northern Minnesota the previous day had moved into southwest Ontario, north of Lake Superior, during the day on the 27th. A lobe of low pressure rotated around the low as strong cold air advection took place over Iowa. Winds increased sharply after sunrise with wind gusts in excess ... | 35 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $68K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-06-19 | Flash FloodAlexander, Franklin County | 0 | 0 | $31M | |
| 2014-06-16 | Thunderstorm WindAlexander, Franklin County | 91 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $499K |
| 2018-09-05 | FloodAlexander, Franklin County | 0 | 0 | $411K | |
| 2013-06-12 | TornadoAlexander, Franklin County | EF2 5.2 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $393K |
| 2002-05-11 | High WindFranklin County · forecast zone Franklin | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $328K |
| 2016-09-23 | Flash FloodSheffield, Franklin County | 0 | 0 | $307K | |
| 2014-06-16 | Thunderstorm WindGeneva, Franklin County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $280K |
| 2021-12-15 | TornadoGeneva, Franklin County | EF2 7.49 mi x 90 yd | 0 | 0 | $272K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: June 28, 1990 (tornado, Franklin County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Franklin County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 47 | 43 | 15 |
| Hail | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 19 | 42 | 38 | 15 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 17 | 34 | 34 | 13 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 14 | 24 | 24 | 1 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 12 | 19 | 7 | 5 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 9 | 2 | 18 | 8 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
50% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1961 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 53 · Feb 35 · Mar 36 · Apr 54 · May 86 · Jun 127 · Jul 62 · Aug 52 · Sep 34 · Oct 15 · Nov 13 · Dec 35 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Franklin County
FEMA's register lists 22 declarations that include Franklin County: 20 major disasters, 2 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (10) and severe storm (8).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-24 | DR-4784 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2022-02-23 | DR-4642 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2020-03-23 | DR-4483 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3480 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-03-23 | DR-4421 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2016-10-31 | DR-4289 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2014-07-24 | DR-4184 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2013-07-02 | DR-4126 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2010-07-29 | DR-1930 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 2010-02-25 | DR-1877 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm |
| 2008-05-27 | DR-1763 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2007-03-14 | DR-1688 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3239 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-05-25 | DR-1518 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 1998-07-02 | DR-1230 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 1993-07-09 | DR-996 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1991-12-26 | DR-928 | Severe Ice Storm | Ice Storm |
| 1990-09-06 | DR-879 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1990-05-26 | DR-868 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1969-08-14 | DR-269 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
| 1968-08-04 | DR-248 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
| 1965-04-22 | DR-193 | Flood | Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Franklin County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 63 flood or flash flood records for Franklin County from 1997 to 2024, on 44 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Franklin County ranks 2756th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $41,000 on 2 claims filed in Franklin County; the most in one year was 1 in 2010. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2010: 1 · 2016: 1; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Franklin County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Franklin County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $10.8 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively High | $4.1M | 23 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $432K | 5.1 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.5M | 10 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $91K | 19 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.8M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $446K | 4.7 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $37K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $166 | once in about 16 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Franklin County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in IowaEvery Iowa tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in IowaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Iowa recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Franklin CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Franklin County's FEMA declarations (CSV)22 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis