Chugach Census Area, Alaska Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AK
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 20th
Chugach Census Area faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 19.6, 20th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and avalanche exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Chugach Census Area is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 19.6 out of 100 — placing it in the 20th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $396K in expected annual loss and about 76.51 events per year; avalanche (fast-moving snow and debris sliding down steep mountain slopes) at Very High risk — $5M in expected annual loss and about 0.77 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 0.13 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $10M in expected annual loss for a population of 7K.
Beyond physical exposure, Chugach Census Area has a very low social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Both measures sit toward the lower end, indicating relatively modest population sensitivity.
Among 30 Alaska counties, Chugach Census Area ranks #18 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 76.51 / yr | $396K |
| Avalanche | Very High | 0.77 / yr | $5M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.13 / yr | $3M |
| Cold Wave | Low | 1.64 / yr | $1M |
| Winter Weather | Low | 7.51 / yr | $41K |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.30 / yr | $307K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $558 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $694 |
| Lightning | Very Low | 4.46 / yr | $6K |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $504 |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $266K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $16 |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Drought | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
FEMA's declaration records (1953–present) list no county-level federal disaster declarations for Chugach Census Area. Statewide emergency declarations may still have applied.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Chugach Census Area?
Chugach Census Area has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 19.6 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 20th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Chugach Census Area?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $396K EAL), Avalanche (Very High, $5M EAL), Earthquake (Low, $3M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Chugach Census Area compare to other Alaska counties?
Chugach Census Area ranks #18 of 30 Alaska counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Chugach Census Area had?
FEMA's declaration records (1953–present) list no county-level major disaster declarations for Chugach Census Area. Statewide emergency declarations may still have applied.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Chugach Census Area's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.