Northwest Arctic Borough
Alaska — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 55th
Northwest Arctic Borough faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 54.6, 55th national percentile), driven primarily by cold wave and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Cold Wave | High | 9.76 / yr | $9M |
| Landslide | Low | 0.64 / yr | $19K |
| Winter Weather | Medium | 21.70 / yr | $107K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.03 / yr | $343K |
| Wildfire | Low | 0.00 / yr | $69K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $1K |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $1 |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $2K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 16.07 / yr | $9K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $302K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Drought | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Hail | 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 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Northwest Arctic Borough?
Northwest Arctic Borough has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 54.6 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 55th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Northwest Arctic Borough?
The three highest-rated hazards are Cold Wave (High, $9M EAL), Landslide (Low, $19K EAL), Winter Weather (Medium, $107K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Northwest Arctic Borough compare to other Alaska counties?
Northwest Arctic Borough ranks #10 of 30 Alaska counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low 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. Northwest Arctic Borough's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.