The clearest safety concern at Booker T. Washington National Monument isn't the landscape itself — it's the surrounding Franklin County, where the violent crime rate reached 243.1 per 100,000 residents in 2023, running notably above the national average. On the weather side, the county logged 12 thunderstorm wind events alongside 7 flash flood incidents, meaning summer storms here can escalate quickly from rain to dangerous runoff and downed branches.
When storms roll in, move your family away from creek beds and low-lying tent sites immediately, since flash floods in this region can surge with little warning. Pack a NOAA weather radio or download a reliable offline alert app before leaving cell range, and stake your tent with heavy-duty guylines rated for wind. For the crime piece, keep valuables locked in your vehicle rather than visible at a picnic site, and stick to well-trafficked areas if venturing off monument grounds.
Top recorded hazards in Franklin County
County dataFrom NOAA Storm Events (2024). Counts of recorded incidents — not all occurred at this park.
- Thunderstorm Wind 12
- Flash Flood 7
- Flood 2
Gear keyed to this park's risks
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About Booker T Washington National Monument
Booker T. Washington was born a slave in April 1856 on the 207-acre farm of James Burroughs. After the Civil War, Washington became the first principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School. Later as an adviser, author and orator, his past would influence his philosophies as the most influential African American of his era. Come explore his birthplace.
Weather
Please contact the park at 540/682-0173 during inclement weather conditions to find out about closures.