Natural Disasters in Alaska: History & Risk Data
3,364 recorded disaster events across 222 ZIP codes.
State Statistics
Event Timeline
Hazard Breakdown
Most Affected ZIP Codes in Alaska
📊 Alaska Disaster Profile
Federal and state records show 3,364 natural disaster events for Alaska, spanning 222 ZIP codes. The cumulative documented property damage stands at $531.3M. A total of 45 fatalities have been attributed to natural disasters in the state.
⚠️ Hazard Distribution
Wildfires lead Alaska's disaster profile with 2,515 events (75%). Other significant hazards include severe wind events (488 events, $1M in damages), floods (291 events, $528M in damages), and blizzards (52 events, $2.3M in damages). Alaska has no recorded tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes in the dataset.
📍 Geographic Impact
The most disaster-affected areas in Alaska include ZIP 99768 (216 events, $25K in damages), ZIP 99738 (201 events, $9.7M in damages), and ZIP 99627 (199 events, $361K in damages). These three ZIP codes alone account for 18% of the state's total disaster events, indicating geographic concentration of hazard activity.
📈 Trends Over Time
Disaster frequency in Alaska has increased markedly over time. The average annual event count in recent decades is roughly 386% higher than in earlier periods of the record. The year 2015 stands out as particularly active, with 204 events recorded — likely driven by a major weather system or disaster season.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions — Alaska
What natural disasters occur in Alaska?
Alaska has experienced 3,364 documented natural disaster events. The hazard types recorded include wildfires (2,515), severe wind events (488), floods (291), blizzards (52), and hailstorms (18). The most common hazard is wildfires, accounting for 75% of all events.
What are the most disaster-prone areas in Alaska?
Based on historical records, the most disaster-affected ZIP codes in Alaska are ZIP 99768 (216 events), ZIP 99738 (201 events), ZIP 99627 (199 events), ZIP 99557 (163 events), and ZIP 99730 (145 events). These areas have the highest concentration of recorded natural disaster events in the state.
How much damage have natural disasters caused in Alaska?
Natural disasters have caused a documented $531.3M in property damage across Alaska. This total is based on records from FEMA, NOAA, and USGS, covering events from the 1950s onward. The actual figure is likely higher, as not all events have complete damage records.
About This Data
State-level data aggregated from FEMA (disaster declarations, NFIP flood claims), NOAA Storm Events Database, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, and NIFC wildfire records. Historical coverage varies by source, with most records beginning in the 1950s–1970s. Full methodology →