Shawnee Mission · Photo: Lester Jones, Photographer · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Fairway faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fairway gets a B− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns, #58 of 151 in Kansas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%), then tornadoes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 93 claims here since 1979.
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 Fairway’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Fairway 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
Tornadoes
Hail
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 Fairway’s grade
River and rain flooding is 77% of the building damage FEMA expects in Fairway, and Fairway’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts. Winter storms add 1%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
B− #58 of 151 in Kansas; lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Fairway’s residents live in 4 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Kansas town has higher expected damage than 54% of U.S. towns; within the state, Fairway has less expected damage per building than 62% of Kansas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $2.2M a year in losses across Fairway: $1.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Fairway flood? Sometimes: 93 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Fairway, from FEMA’s records: 51.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Midwest Flooding10 claims · $61K
Fairway isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Johnson County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Fairway
Disasters that paid out in Fairway itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Fairway), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding$149K to the City of Fairway for repairs
- 2017Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$23K to the City of Fairway for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2002Severe Winter Ice Storm$287K to the City of Fairway for repairs
Johnson County has had 9 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 Fairway after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Fairway archive →Fairway and its neighbors
Fairway is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mission | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 59 |
| Roeland Park | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Prairie Village | B+less damage than 71% | river and rain flooding | 104 |
| Mission Hills | B+less damage than 66% | river and rain flooding | 41 |
| Westwood | Bless damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Fairway | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 93 |
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 Fairway 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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 Fairway
Is Fairway at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fairway has lower expected damage per building than 53% of U.S. towns: B− for hazard risk, #58 of 151 in Kansas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (77%) and tornadoes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Fairway flood?
Flood insurance has paid 93 claims in Fairway since 1979, $1.5M in all, or 51.5 per 1,000 homes, more than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 8 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Midwest Flooding (10).
Is Fairway 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 Johnson County, 25% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Fairway?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Fairway’s 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 Fairway?
By FEMA money that reached Fairway, Severe Winter Ice Storm (2002): $287K to the City of Fairway for repairs. By flood claims, Midwest Flooding: 10 paid, $61K.
Is Fairway at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (77%), and Fairway’s rate for it is higher than 61% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Fairway.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Fairway’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.