Ketchikan Gateway Borough Disaster Risk

Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

2th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#26

of 30 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

26th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 26% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 11% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 0% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 31% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Ketchikan Gateway Borough

Risk Verdict

Ketchikan Gateway Borough has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 2th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is the dominant hazard for Ketchikan Gateway Borough, scoring in the 31th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 26th percentile. Additional hazards include wildfire (11th), tornado (0th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Ketchikan Gateway Borough residents should secure heavy furniture and appliances, know how to shut off utilities, and keep emergency supplies accessible. Secondary risks such as flood also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Ketchikan Gateway Borough is notably safer than the average county in Alaska. Its composite risk score is 33.5 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, AK?
Ketchikan Gateway Borough has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 2th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Ketchikan Gateway Borough?
Ketchikan Gateway Borough is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (31th percentile), flooding (26th percentile), wildfire (11th percentile), tornado (0th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 31th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Ketchikan Gateway Borough risk compare to the Alaska average?
Ketchikan Gateway Borough's composite risk percentile is 2th, compared to the Alaska state average of 35th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Ketchikan Gateway Borough faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Alaska.
Is Ketchikan Gateway Borough at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Ketchikan Gateway Borough's earthquake risk is at the 31th percentile nationally. This is below the national median, indicating relatively lower exposure. For flooding specifically, Ketchikan Gateway Borough is at the 26th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Ketchikan Gateway Borough a safe place to live?
Ketchikan Gateway Borough's composite risk score of 2th percentile is below the Alaska state average of 35th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is earthquake at the 31th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.
By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.