Fairbanks North Star Borough
Alaska — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
MediumComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 89th
Fairbanks North Star Borough faces medium composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 88.5, 89th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $101M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | High | 11.13 / yr | $3M |
| Earthquake | Medium | 0.08 / yr | $55M |
| Wildfire | Medium | 0.01 / yr | $13M |
| Winter Weather | Very High | 17.01 / yr | $2M |
| Cold Wave | High | 3.37 / yr | $20M |
| Avalanche | Medium | 0.03 / yr | $457K |
| Lightning | Medium | 38.58 / yr | $452K |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $23 |
| Riverine Flood | Low | 0.01 / yr | $8M |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.01 / yr | $59K |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $5K |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $1K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $2 |
| Coastal Flood | 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 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Fairbanks North Star Borough?
Fairbanks North Star Borough has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 88.5 out of 100, placing it in the Medium category and the 89th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Fairbanks North Star Borough?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (High, $3M EAL), Earthquake (Medium, $55M EAL), Wildfire (Medium, $13M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Fairbanks North Star Borough compare to other Alaska counties?
Fairbanks North Star Borough ranks #4 of 30 Alaska counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a medium rating.
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. Fairbanks North Star Borough's $101M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.