Photo: Aab254 · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Fairfield’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 79% of U.S. towns, led by river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fairfield gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns, #137 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (47%), then coastal flooding (30%). Flood insurance has paid 2,056 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 Fairfield’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Fairfield 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
Coastal flooding
Hurricanes
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 Fairfield’s grade
River and rain flooding is 47% of the building damage FEMA expects in Fairfield, and Fairfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 30%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #137 of 155 in Connecticut; higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Fairfield’s residents live in 16 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Connecticut town has higher expected damage than 62% of U.S. towns; within the state, Fairfield has more expected damage per building than 88% of Connecticut towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $30.7M a year in losses across Fairfield: $28.6M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Fairfield flood? Yes: 2,056 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Fairfield, from FEMA’s records: 91.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy968 claims · $42.6M
- The December Storm - nor’easter303 claims · $5.5M
- Hurricane Irene167 claims · $3.3M
Fairfield is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: the county.15 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Fairfield
Disasters that paid out in Fairfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Fairfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida$375K to the Town of Fairfield for repairs28 flood claims paid for it, $655K
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$836K to the Town of Fairfield for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$276K to the Town of Fairfield for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$3.7M to the Town of Fairfield for repairs968 flood claims paid for it, $42.6M
- 2011Severe Storm$99K to the Town of Fairfield for repairs
- 2011Tropical Storm Irene$724K to the Town of Fairfield for repairs167 flood claims paid for it, $3.3M
Show all 15
- 2011Snowstorm$130K to the Town of Fairfield for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$426K to the Town of Fairfield for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms$9K to the Town of Fairfield for repairs
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding$69K to the Town of Fairfield for repairs48 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Snow$115K to the Town of Fairfield for repairs46 flood claims paid that year
- 2005Record Snow$114K to the Town of Fairfield for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$132K to the Town of Fairfield for repairs
- 2003Snow$85K to the Town of Fairfield for repairs
- 2003Snow$2K to the Town of Fairfield for repairs
Old photos of Fairfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Fairfield archive →Fairfield and its neighbors
Fairfield is 5th of the 6 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easton | Bless damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Trumbull | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 151 |
| Westport | Cmore damage than 73% | river and rain flooding | 1,547 |
| Weston | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | 78 |
| Fairfield | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 2,056 |
| Bridgeport | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 711 |
| Staples | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Southport | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Greens Farms | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Coleytown | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Plattsville | — | 910 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Fairfield 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.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- 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.
- Fairfield residents get 10% off flood insurance.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Fairfield
Is Fairfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fairfield has higher expected damage per building than 79% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #137 of 155 in Connecticut. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (47%) and coastal flooding (30%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Fairfield flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2,056 claims in Fairfield since 1978, $56.3M in all, or 91.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 173 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (968).
Is Fairfield 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 the county, 51% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 4.9% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Fairfield?
Fairfield is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 8), which takes 10% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Fairfield?
By FEMA money that reached Fairfield, Hurricane Sandy (2012): $3.7M to the Town of Fairfield for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 968 paid, $42.6M.
Is Fairfield at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (47%), and Fairfield’s rate for it is higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Fairfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Fairfield’s 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.