Natural hazards · Fairfax

Fairfax, OK natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Fairfax comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1986. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Fairfax?

High

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Fairfax to be higher than in 77% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and drought.

Inland flooding34%Drought22%Tornadoes12%Wildfire10%Cold waves8%Heat waves6%Everything else7%

By hazard

What Fairfax faces

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

Inland flooding

34% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 81% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Drought

22% of expected damage

Recorded about 62 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

12% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 74% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 2 years in the area

Wildfire

10% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 98% of U.S. places

Cold waves

8% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 33% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Heat waves

6% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 80% of U.S. places

Recorded about 24 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Fairfax flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Fairfax, from FEMA’s records.

1paid claims since 1986

$3Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

19862026

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Fairfax isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Osage County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

20storm safe rooms built

Disasters that hit Fairfax

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into FairfaxDeclared for Osage County only

2024

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

1 household applied for aid

2021

Severe Winter Storms

4 households applied for aid

2019

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

20 households applied for aid $8K aid approved

2011

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$980 to the Town of Fairfax for repairs

2003

Severe Storms and Tornadoes

4 households applied for aid $9K aid approved $7K to the Town of Fairfax for repairs

2002

Severe Winter Ice Storm

$4K to the Town of Fairfax for repairs

Osage County has had 35 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and ice storms.

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. Fairfax is smaller than a census tract, so it shares the figures of the tract around its center.

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

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.

Fairfax, OK natural hazards

How exposed is Fairfax?

What Fairfax faces

Inland flooding

Drought

Tornadoes

Wildfire

Cold waves

Heat waves

Lower here

Not a risk here

Does Fairfax flood?

What’s been done with FEMA grants

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Severe Winter Storms

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

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

Severe Storms and Tornadoes

Severe Winter Ice Storm

How to read this page

Where to, neighbor?

Matches

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