Photo: WeaponizingArchitecture · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Fairmont’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 70% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fairmont gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns, #28 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). Flood insurance has paid 44 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 Fairmont’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Fairmont 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 Fairmont’s grade
River and rain flooding is 93% of the building damage FEMA expects in Fairmont, and Fairmont’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
C #28 of 61 in West Virginia; higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Fairmont’s residents live in 11 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical West Virginia town has higher expected damage than 73% of U.S. towns; within the state, Fairmont has less expected damage per building than 55% of West Virginia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.8M a year in losses across Fairmont: $6.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Fairmont flood? Sometimes: 44 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Fairmont, from FEMA’s records: 4.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Fairmont isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Marion County.10 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Fairmont
Disasters that paid out in Fairmont itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Fairmont), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides494 households applied for aid$3.8M aid approved$518K to the City of Fairmont for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2022Hurricane Ian1 households applied for aid$700 aid approved
- 2017Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides21 households applied for aid$17K aid approved
- 2012Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides277 households applied for aid$730K aid approved$30K to the City of Fairmont for repairs3 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms$4K to the City of Fairmont for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, and72 households applied for aid$198K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
Show all 10
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides83 households applied for aid$307K aid approved
- 2003Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides23 households applied for aid$22K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides$13K to the City of Fairmont for repairs
- 2000Flooding, Severe Storms, and Landslides$19K to the City of Fairmont for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
Marion 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 Fairmont after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Fairmont archive →Fairmont and its neighbors
Fairmont has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairmont | Cmore damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Pleasant Valley | Dmore damage than 88% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| White Hall | — | 946 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 Fairmont 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 Fairmont
Is Fairmont at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Fairmont has higher expected damage per building than 70% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #28 of 61 in West Virginia. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (93%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Fairmont flood?
Flood insurance has paid 44 claims in Fairmont since 1978, $502K in all, or 4.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Fairmont 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 Marion County, 10% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Fairmont?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Fairmont’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 Fairmont?
By FEMA money that reached Fairmont, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2025): 494 households applied for aid, $3.8M approved, and $518K to the City of Fairmont for repairs.
Is Fairmont at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (93%), and Fairmont’s rate for it is higher than 85% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Fairmont.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Fairmont’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.