Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 55% of US counties. It ranks 10th of 30 boroughs and census areas in Alaska. The costliest hazards here are cold waves, earthquakes and inland flooding. FEMA estimates about $9.9 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,285 per resident. Since 1994 it has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2025 (severe storms, flooding and remnants of typhoon halong). Only 22 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $97,000 on 11 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Northwest Arctic Borough
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- 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.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold wave | 97.3 | $9M | ||
| Earthquake | 65.7 | $343K | ||
| Inland flooding | 3.4 | $302K | ||
| Winter weather | 78.6 | $107K | ||
| Wildfire | 65.7 | $69K | ||
| Landslide | 86.1 | $19K | ||
| Lightning | 5.1 | $9K | ||
| Ice storm | 6.6 | $2K | ||
| Avalanche | 62.6 | $1K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 29.3 | $1 | ||
| Tornado | 0.5 | $0 |
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 high 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 Northwest Arctic Borough. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Alaska also had 33 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Flood insurance in Northwest Arctic 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 Northwest Arctic 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; 2,744 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 |
|---|---|---|
| North Slope Borough | 6 | |
| Nome Census Area | 9 | |
| Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area | 17 |
Common questions about Northwest Arctic Borough
What is the biggest natural hazard in Northwest Arctic Borough?
Cold wave has the highest expected yearly losses in Northwest Arctic Borough, about $9.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $343,270.
How many federal disasters has Northwest Arctic Borough had?
Northwest Arctic Borough has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1994, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, and Remnants of Typhoon Halong in October 2025.
Is Northwest Arctic Borough a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 10th 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 Northwest Arctic Borough?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 67 homes in Northwest Arctic Borough has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
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.