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Fairfax City, Virginia

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

Very Low overall risk
121st of 133highest risk in Virginia
$5Mexpected losses a year
15federal declarations
1 in 53homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Fairfax City, Virginia has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 95% of US counties. It ranks 121st of 133 counties in Virginia. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, strong wind and hurricanes. FEMA estimates about $4.8 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $198 per resident. Since 1972 it has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (10 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2026 (severe winter storm). About 1 in 53 homes here carry federal flood insurance (130 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $940,000 on 53 claims here.

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

Top risks in Fairfax City

$2.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • 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.
$397,363 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 8 times a year.
  • Secure outdoor furniture and trash bins before storms.
  • Have trees near the house checked.
$385,034 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 10 years.
  • Know your evacuation zone and route before June 1.
  • Ask about roof age, shutters and the separate wind or hurricane deductible on your home policy.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low13.5
$3M
Strong windLow27.3
$397K
HurricaneLow62.2
$385K
Heat waveLow42.1
$383K
EarthquakeVery Low47.8
$372K
TornadoVery Low20.1
$359K
LightningLow36.2
$211K
HailVery Low17.5
$93K
Winter weatherLow27.1
$39K
Cold waveVery Low5.2
$28K
Ice stormVery Low13.9
$13K
WildfireVery Low1.0
$671
LandslideVery Low2.1
$3

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 relatively high in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Fairfax City. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Snowstorm5
Hurricane5
Severe Storm3
Flood1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

Jan 23, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergency
Sep 11, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergency
Mar 7, 2016Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Nov 26, 2012Hurricane SandyMajor disaster
Oct 29, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergency
Jul 27, 2012Severe Storms and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Apr 27, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormsMajor disaster
Feb 16, 2010Severe Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 18, 2003Hurricane IsabelMajor disaster
Show all 15
Mar 27, 2003Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snowfall, Heavy Rain,Floodind, and MudslideMajor disaster
Feb 28, 2000Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm)Major disaster
Mar 25, 1993Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disaster

Virginia also had 6 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1984

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 59 storm reports in Fairfax City since 1984, with 2 deaths and 0 injuries and about $2.2 million in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.

0tornadoes
10hail reports, largest 1 inches
26damaging thunderstorm winds
11floods and flash floods

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Apr 23, 1999HailFairfax$2M
Aug 3, 2002LightningFairfax$50K
Jun 15, 1998LightningFairfax$15K
Jul 4, 2006Thunderstorm WindFairfax$15K
Jul 2, 2006Thunderstorm WindFairfax$15K
Nov 2, 1997Thunderstorm WindFairfax$10K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 16, 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 1876, 2 hurricanes and 13 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Fairfax City, 5 of them since 1950. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with top winds near 95 mph about 29 miles away.

2hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
13tropical storms
2020most recent: Isaias

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Oct 23, 1878UnnamedCategory 1, 95 mph29 mi
Oct 13, 1893UnnamedCategory 1, 75 mph44 mi
Aug 23, 1933UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph59 mi
Sep 17, 1876UnnamedTropical storm, 70 mph45 mi
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph60 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 65 mph58 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 4, 2020IsaiasTropical storm, 70 mph60 mi
Jun 3, 1963UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph58 mi
Aug 18, 1955DianeTropical storm, 50 mph62 mi
Aug 13, 1955ConnieTropical storm, 65 mph58 mi
Sep 1, 1952AbleTropical storm, 60 mph46 mi
Aug 29, 1949UnnamedTropical storm, 60 mph52 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 Fairfax City

Check your address flood zone ›
1.9%of homes have federal flood insurance (130 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$939,666paid on 53 flood claims since 1978
2011costliest year, with $536,371 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 Fairfax City

$722,600median home value (Virginia $383,700, US $332,700)
1967median year homes were built (Virginia 1984, US 1980)
66%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
0%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; 9,313 housing units.

Compare in Virginia

All 133 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Fairfax CountyHighInland flooding
Prince William CountyModerateInland flooding
Virginia Beach CityLowHurricane
Loudoun CountyLowInland flooding
Chesterfield CountyModerateInland flooding
Henrico CountyModerateInland flooding
Chesapeake CityLowInland flooding
Arlington CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Fairfax CountyHigh17

Cities in Fairfax City

Common questions about Fairfax City

What is the biggest natural hazard in Fairfax City?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Fairfax City, about $2.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Strong wind is second at $397,363.

How many federal disasters has Fairfax City had?

Fairfax City has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1972, including 10 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in January 2026.

Is Fairfax City a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 121st highest of 133 in Virginia. 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 Fairfax City?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 53 homes in Fairfax City 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 Fairfax City had?

NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Fairfax City since 1950. The weather service has also logged 10 hail reports and 11 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Fairfax City?

NOAA's hurricane records show 2 hurricanes and 13 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Fairfax City. The strongest was an unnamed hurricane in 1878, with winds near 95 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 city, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.