riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Northwest Arctic Borough Disaster Risk

Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

55th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#10

of 30 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

3th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 3% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 66% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 1% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 66% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Northwest Arctic Borough

Risk Verdict

Northwest Arctic Borough shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 55th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Northwest Arctic Borough, scoring in the 66th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 66th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (3th), tornado (1th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Northwest Arctic Borough residents should create defensible space around your property, sign up for local emergency alerts, and prepare a go-bag with essential documents and medications. Secondary risks such as earthquake 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

Northwest Arctic Borough is significantly riskier than the average county in Alaska. Its composite risk score is 19.4 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

Is your home insured against Northwest Arctic Borough's risks?

Compare home and flood insurance quotes in minutes.

Get Quotes →

Sponsored

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Northwest Arctic Borough, AK?
Northwest Arctic Borough has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 55th 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 Northwest Arctic Borough?
Northwest Arctic Borough is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: wildfire (66th percentile), earthquake (66th percentile), flooding (3th percentile), tornado (1th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 66th 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 Northwest Arctic Borough risk compare to the Alaska average?
Northwest Arctic Borough's composite risk percentile is 55th, compared to the Alaska state average of 35th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Northwest Arctic Borough faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Alaska.
Is Northwest Arctic Borough at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Northwest Arctic Borough's wildfire risk is at the 66th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Northwest Arctic Borough is at the 3th 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.
Why is Northwest Arctic Borough higher risk than average?
Northwest Arctic Borough's composite risk score of 55th percentile is above the Alaska state average of 35th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by wildfire exposure (66th percentile), along with earthquake risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Southeast Fairbanks Census Area

Alaska

+2.4

Relatively Low

57th percentile

Kusilvak Census Area

Alaska

+3.3

Relatively Low

58th percentile

Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area

Alaska

+7.0

Relatively Low

62th percentile

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.

Explore more data for Northwest Arctic Borough

Property TaxCost of LivingCrime RateIncomeHealthSchoolsWater QualityWeatherCounty Score