Anchorage Municipality, Alaska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Anchorage Municipality, Alaska has a relatively high overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 97% of US counties. It ranks 1st of 30 boroughs and census areas in Alaska. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, avalanches and tsunamis. FEMA estimates about $367 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,261 per resident. Since 1995 it has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (4 major disasters). The most recent was in January 2019 (earthquake). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (305 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $269,000 on 81 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Anchorage Municipality
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- Check avalanche forecasts before backcountry trips.
- Ask about slide paths near mountain homes.
- Learn the tsunami evacuation route signs.
- If you feel a strong quake near the coast, move to high ground right away.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | 99.5 | $353M | ||
| Avalanche | 97.1 | $7M | ||
| Tsunami | 53.8 | $2M | ||
| Winter weather | 98.8 | $2M | ||
| Landslide | 98.9 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 27.9 | $492K | ||
| Wildfire | 78.6 | $471K | ||
| Lightning | 38.6 | $201K | ||
| Hail | 7.2 | $27K | ||
| Ice storm | 22.5 | $27K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 87.3 | $7K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 28.0 | $4K | ||
| Inland flooding | 0.2 | $397 | ||
| Tornado | 0.4 | $1 |
Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very low and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Anchorage Municipality. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Alaska also had 33 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1997
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 4 storm reports in Anchorage Municipality since 1997 and about $1 million in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 3, 1999 | Seiche | Dutch Harbor | $750K |
| Dec 1, 2020 | Flood | Gustavus | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Dec 1, 2020. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.
Flood insurance in Anchorage Municipality
Check your address flood zone ›National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.
Homes in Anchorage Municipality
Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 120,348 housing units.
Compare in Alaska
All 30 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage Municipality | Earthquake | |
| Matanuska-Susitna Borough | Earthquake | |
| Fairbanks North Star Borough | Earthquake | |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough | Earthquake | |
| Juneau City and Borough | Earthquake | |
| Bethel Census Area | Cold wave | |
| Ketchikan Gateway Borough | Inland flooding | |
| Kodiak Island Borough | Earthquake |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 18 | |
| Kenai Peninsula Borough | 18 | |
| Chugach Census Area | 7 |
Cities in Anchorage Municipality
Common questions about Anchorage Municipality
What is the biggest natural hazard in Anchorage Municipality?
Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Anchorage Municipality, about $353 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Avalanche is second at $6.8 million.
How many federal disasters has Anchorage Municipality had?
Anchorage Municipality has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1995, including 4 major disasters. The most recent was Earthquake in January 2019.
Is Anchorage Municipality a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively High, 1st highest of 30 in Alaska. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.
Do I need flood insurance in Anchorage Municipality?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 250 homes in Anchorage Municipality has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Anchorage Municipality had?
NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Anchorage Municipality since 1950. The weather service has also logged 0 hail reports and 1 floods here.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole borough, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.