Fairfield County, OH
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Fairfield County has experienced 13 federally declared disasters since 1968, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Fairfield County's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, landslide, and hail, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have increased 32% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is relatively low (20th percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Fairfield County has been designated in 13 declarations since 1968, covering 5 disaster types including severe storm (7), biological (2), snowstorm (2).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression Ike |
| 2008 | Snowstorm | Record Snow And Near Record Snow |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| 2005 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 1992 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 13 total declarations since 1968.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 26.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Moderate | 81.8 | 51 | 0 | $396K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 57.2 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | 79.3 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 71.6 | 4 | 0 | $520K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 29.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 82.9 | 33 | 0 | $350K |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 76.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 80.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 88.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 38 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 81.9 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 77.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 87 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Fairfield County ranks in the 20th percentile (Very low) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 20th | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 16th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 45th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 47th | Low |
| Housing type & transportation | 18th | Very low |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 16th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 16th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 50.6% | — |
NOAA tracked 88 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 38 in 2016–20 vs 50 in 2021–25 (+32% — frequency increasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Fairfield County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Fairfield County, Ohio are ice storm, landslide, and hail. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Fairfield County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Fairfield County has received 13 federal disaster declarations since 1968, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (7 declarations).
Has Fairfield County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Fairfield County since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Fairfield County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Franklin County, OH has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Vinton County, OH has the lowest (Very Low). Fairfield County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Fairfield County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Fairfield County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Fairfield County's composite score of 73 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 73% of US counties.