North Slope Borough, Alaska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
North Slope Borough, Alaska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 85% of US counties. It ranks 20th of 30 boroughs and census areas in Alaska. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, inland flooding and earthquakes. FEMA estimates about $4.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $460 per resident. Since 1986 it has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (6 major disasters). The most recent was in December 2017 (severe storm). Only 1 home here carries federal flood insurance.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in North Slope Borough
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold wave | 84.8 | $4M | ||
| Inland flooding | 2.6 | $378K | ||
| Earthquake | 50.2 | $229K | ||
| Winter weather | 82.0 | $189K | ||
| Lightning | 0.8 | $3K | ||
| Wildfire | 11.4 | $3K | ||
| Ice storm | 6.8 | $3K | ||
| Avalanche | 60.4 | $1K | ||
| Landslide | 13.8 | $44 | ||
| Tornado | 0.7 | $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 relatively moderate and community resilience is very low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included North Slope Borough. 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 2022
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 2 storm reports in North Slope Borough since 2022. No tornadoes are on record here.
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 19, 2024. 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 North Slope Borough
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 North Slope Borough
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; 2,642 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Northwest Arctic Borough | 5 | |
| Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area | 17 |
Common questions about North Slope Borough
What is the biggest natural hazard in North Slope Borough?
Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in North Slope Borough, about $4.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $377,865.
How many federal disasters has North Slope Borough had?
North Slope Borough has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1986, including 6 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storm in December 2017.
Is North Slope Borough a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 20th 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 North Slope Borough?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in North Slope Borough 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 North Slope Borough had?
NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in North Slope Borough 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.