East Fairfield Covered Bridge · Photo: Photo by Gerald Hann; · Public domainLess hazard damage per building is expected in Fairfield than in 72% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fairfield gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
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
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 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Fairfield, and Fairfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 57% of U.S. census tracts.
B+ lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Fairfield’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $462K a year in losses across Fairfield: $359K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Fairfield flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Fairfield. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Fairfield isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Franklin County.6 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.
- 2019Severe Storm and Flooding$823K to the Town of Fairfield for repairs
- 2017Severe Storm and Flooding$3K to the Town of Fairfield for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storms$21K to the Town of Fairfield for repairs
- 2011Severe Storms and Flooding$362K to the Town of Fairfield for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding$30K to the Town of Fairfield for repairs
- 2002Severe Storms and Flooding$146K to the Town of Fairfield for repairs
Franklin County has had 27 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.
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 3rd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheldon | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Bakersfield | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Fairfield | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
| Swanton | B+less damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 25 |
| Fletcher | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Fairfax | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Enosburgh | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| St. Albans | — | not graded yet | |
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.
- 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 Fairfield
Is Fairfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fairfield has lower expected damage per building than 72% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (90%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
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 Franklin County, 0.7% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Fairfield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Fairfield’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 Fairfield?
By FEMA money that reached Fairfield, Severe Storm and Flooding (2019): $823K to the Town of Fairfield for repairs.
Is Fairfield at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Fairfield’s rate for it is higher than 57% 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.