Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · AK
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 3th
Yakutat City and Borough faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 3.0, 3th national percentile), driven primarily by landslide and avalanche exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $1M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Yakutat City and Borough is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 3.0 out of 100 — placing it in the 3rd 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.
The county's risk is driven primarily by landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Medium risk — $101K in expected annual loss and about 74.72 events per year; avalanche (fast-moving snow and debris sliding down steep mountain slopes) at Medium risk — $457K in expected annual loss and about 0.03 events per year; and earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $755K in expected annual loss and about 0.18 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $1M in expected annual loss for a population of 647.
Beyond physical exposure, Yakutat City and Borough has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The federal record bears this out: Yakutat City and Borough has received 2 federal disaster declarations since 2020, including 2 for biological events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in April 2020.
Among 30 Alaska counties, Yakutat City and Borough ranks #25 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Landslide | Medium | 74.72 / yr | $101K |
| Avalanche | Medium | 0.03 / yr | $457K |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.18 / yr | $755K |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 15.36 / yr | $9K |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.30 / yr | $43K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.13 / yr | $1 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $371 |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $50K |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $60 |
| Lightning | Very Low | 6.80 / yr | $29 |
| 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 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Yakutat City and Borough has received 2 federal disaster declarations since 2020, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in April 2020. Most frequent causes: Biological (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Yakutat City and Borough?
Yakutat City and Borough has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 3.0 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 3th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Yakutat City and Borough?
The three highest-rated hazards are Landslide (Medium, $101K EAL), Avalanche (Medium, $457K EAL), Earthquake (Low, $755K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Yakutat City and Borough compare to other Alaska counties?
Yakutat City and Borough ranks #25 of 30 Alaska counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Yakutat City and Borough had?
FEMA records 2 federal disaster declarations for Yakutat City and Borough since 2020, most often 2 for biological events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic, declared in April 2020.
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. Yakutat City and Borough's $1M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.