Sitka City and Borough, Alaska
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Sitka City and Borough, Alaska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 76% of US counties. It ranks 16th of 30 boroughs and census areas in Alaska. The costliest hazards here are earthquakes, tsunamis and landslides. FEMA estimates about $7.3 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $870 per resident. About 1 in 48 homes here carry federal flood insurance (55 policies).
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Sitka City and Borough
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- Learn the tsunami evacuation route signs.
- If you feel a strong quake near the coast, move to high ground right away.
- Look for cracks, tilting trees or fences on slopes nearby.
- Ask the county about past slides on the street.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | 83.9 | $2M | ||
| Tsunami | 55.4 | $2M | ||
| Landslide | 99.2 | $2M | ||
| Avalanche | 85.2 | $913K | ||
| Inland flooding | 2.6 | $415K | ||
| Volcanic activity | 93.8 | $141K | ||
| Winter weather | 35.7 | $34K | ||
| Ice storm | 23.0 | $19K | ||
| Lightning | 4.5 | $13K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 34.0 | $7K | ||
| Wildfire | 8.7 | $3K | ||
| Cold wave | 3.0 | $37 | ||
| Tornado | 0.1 | $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 relatively moderate and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Sitka City and 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 2008
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 18 storm reports in Sitka City and Borough since 2008 and about $13 million in reported damage. No tornadoes are on record here.
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 9, 2009 | Flood | Stevens Village | $7M |
| May 7, 2009 | Flood | Ft Yukon | $2M |
| May 19, 2013 | Flood | Circle | $2M |
| May 6, 2009 | Flood | Circle | $1M |
| May 6, 2009 | Flood | Chalkyitsik | $715K |
| May 20, 2013 | Flood | Ft Yukon | $300K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 7, 2023. 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 Sitka City and 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 Sitka City and 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; 4,161 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area | 1 | |
| Hoonah-Angoon Census Area | 0 |
Common questions about Sitka City and Borough
What is the biggest natural hazard in Sitka City and Borough?
Earthquake has the highest expected yearly losses in Sitka City and Borough, about $2.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tsunami is second at $2 million.
How many federal disasters has Sitka City and Borough had?
Sitka City and Borough has been included in 0 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events, including no major disasters.
Is Sitka City and Borough a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 16th 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 Sitka City and Borough?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 48 homes in Sitka City and 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 Sitka City and Borough had?
NOAA records list 0 tornadoes in Sitka City and Borough since 1950. The weather service has also logged 0 hail reports and 16 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.