Fair Oaks Bridge, Old, · Photo: LPS.1 · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Fair Oaks’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 83% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fair Oaks gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns, #5 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%), then earthquakes (19%). Flood insurance has paid 36 claims here since 1978.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Fair Oaks’ natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Fair Oaks 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
Earthquakes
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.
What’s behind Fair Oaks’ grade
River and rain flooding is 80% of the building damage FEMA expects in Fair Oaks, and Fair Oaks’ rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 63% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 19% (higher than 79% of U.S. census tracts).
A− #5 of 847 in California; lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Fair Oaks’ residents live in 9 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical California town has higher expected damage than 92% of U.S. towns; within the state, Fair Oaks has less expected damage per building than 100% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.1M a year in losses across Fair Oaks: $5.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Fair Oaks flood? Sometimes: 36 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Fair Oaks, from FEMA’s records: 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Pineapple Express - Southern2 claims · $4K
- The California Atmospheric River1 claim · $16K
Fair Oaks isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Sacramento County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Fair Oaks
Disasters that paid out in Fair Oaks itself (aid to households or repair grants to Fair Oaks), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2022Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides71 households applied for aid$61K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides3 households applied for aid$5K aid approved
Sacramento County has had 19 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Fair Oaks after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Fair Oaks archive →Fair Oaks and its neighbors
Fair Oaks has the lowest expected damage per building of the 7 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair Oaks | A−less damage than 83% | river and rain flooding | 36 |
| Rancho Cordova | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Carmichael | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Citrus Heights | Bless damage than 61% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
| Orangevale | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 34 |
| Gold River | Bless damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Folsom | C+more damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 16 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Fair Oaks 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Fair Oaks
Is Fair Oaks at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fair Oaks has lower expected damage per building than 83% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #5 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (80%) and earthquakes (19%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Fair Oaks flood?
Flood insurance has paid 36 claims in Fair Oaks since 1978, $598K in all, or 2.6 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 55% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Pineapple Express - Southern (2).
Is Fair Oaks 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 Sacramento County, 81% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 9.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Fair Oaks?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Fair Oaks’ 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 Fair Oaks?
By FEMA money that reached Fair Oaks, Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2022): 71 households applied for aid, $61K approved. By flood claims, Pineapple Express - Southern: 2 paid, $4K.
Is Fair Oaks at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (80%), and Fair Oaks’ rate for it is lower than 63% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Fair Oaks.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Fair Oaks’ 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.