Natural hazards · Fairmont

Fairmont, MN natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Fairmont comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. 5 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Fairmont?

Low

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Fairmont to be higher than in 27% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and cold waves.

Inland flooding32%Cold waves24%Tornadoes22%Strong wind9%Everything else13%

By hazard

What Fairmont faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

32% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 23% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Cold waves

24% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 66% of U.S. places

Recorded about 11 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

22% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 96% of U.S. places

Strong wind

9% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 96% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

HailIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHurricanesAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Fairmont flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Fairmont.

Disasters that hit Fairmont

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Fairmont itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Fairmont.

Brought FEMA money into FairmontDeclared for Martin County only

2024

Severe Storms and Flooding

32 households applied for aid $76K aid approved $13K to the City of Fairmont for repairs

2018

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

$21K to the City of Fairmont for repairs

2014

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$20K to the City of Fairmont for repairs

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

$2K to the City of Fairmont for repairs

2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

39 households applied for aid $76K aid approved

Martin County has had 13 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often floods and severe storms.

Around Fairmont

Fairmont and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Fairmontmostly inland floodingModerate

Rolling Greenmostly inland floodingLow

Rutlandmostly inland floodingLow

Frasermostly inland floodingLow

Fairmontmostly inland floodingLow

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Fairmont covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Fairmont’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Fairmont. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Fairmont total about $3.7M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); 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. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.