Home › Ohio › Fairfield County

Fairfield County, Ohio

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Low overall risk
21st of 88highest risk in Ohio
$39Mexpected losses a year
11federal declarations
1 in 125homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Fairfield County, Ohio has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 73% of US counties. It ranks 21st of 88 counties in Ohio. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $39 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $245 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (7 major disasters). The most recent was in August 2012 (severe storms and straight-line winds). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (414 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $2.9 million on 311 claims here, including $1.2 million for floods in 2008.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Fairfield County

$26.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Tornado

Moderate
$3.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 5 years.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.

Heat wave

Moderate
$1.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate81.8
$27M
TornadoModerate71.6
$3M
Heat waveModerate79.3
$2M
Strong windModerate76.6
$1M
HailModerate82.9
$1M
LightningHigh81.9
$994K
DroughtModerate77.4
$982K
Ice stormHigh88.3
$976K
Cold waveLow38.0
$758K
EarthquakeVery Low57.2
$490K
Winter weatherModerate80.5
$267K
LandslideLow87.0
$48K
HurricaneVery Low29.5
$17K
WildfireVery Low26.3
$14K

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Fairfield County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Severe Storm7
Snowstorm2
Flood1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Aug 20, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jun 30, 2012Severe StormsEmergency
Oct 24, 2008Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression IkeMajor disaster
Apr 24, 2008Record Snow and Near Record SnowEmergency
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Feb 15, 2005Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 19, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 4, 1992Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 6, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 26, 1978Blizzards & SnowstormsEmergency
Show all 11
Jun 5, 1968Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

Ohio also had 3 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1961

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 510 storm reports in Fairfield County since 1961, with 2 deaths and 20 injuries and about $6.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 10, 1973.

24tornadoes
114hail reports, largest 2.75 inches
286damaging thunderstorm winds
80floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 10, 1973F3–0 / 0
May 16, 1971F2–0 / 0
Apr 11, 1965F1–2 / 0
Dec 26, 1973F1–4 / 0
Sep 14, 1978F1–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
May 8, 1996Flash FloodBuckeye Lake$1M
Jun 21, 1994Thunderstorm WindCountywide$500K
Apr 11, 1965Tornado–$250K
Dec 26, 1973Tornado–$250K
Sep 14, 1978Tornado–$250K
Mar 13, 1982Tornado–$250K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 21, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1888, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Fairfield County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with top winds near 50 mph about 61 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1888most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 21, 1888UnnamedTropical storm, 50 mph61 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Fairfield County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (414 policies)
18%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$2.9 millionpaid on 311 flood claims since 1978
2008costliest year, with $1.2 million paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Fairfield County

$298,800median home value (Ohio $214,800, US $332,700)
1984median year homes were built (Ohio 1970, US 1980)
46%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
2.1%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 64,036 housing units.

Compare in Ohio

All 88 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Franklin CountyHighInland flooding
Cuyahoga CountyHighInland flooding
Hamilton CountyHighInland flooding
Summit CountyModerateInland flooding
Montgomery CountyModerateInland flooding
Lucas CountyModerateInland flooding
Butler CountyModerateInland flooding
Stark CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Franklin CountyHigh19
Licking CountyLow19
Pickaway CountyLow13
Perry CountyVery Low18
Hocking CountyLow16

Common questions about Fairfield County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Fairfield County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Fairfield County, about $26.6 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $3.3 million.

How many federal disasters has Fairfield County had?

Fairfield County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 7 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds in August 2012.

Is Fairfield County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 21st highest of 88 in Ohio. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Fairfield County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 125 homes in Fairfield County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Fairfield County had?

NOAA records list 24 tornadoes in Fairfield County since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 10, 1973. The weather service has also logged 114 hail reports and 80 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Fairfield County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Fairfield County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, with winds near 50 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.