Aleutians West Census Area, AK
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Aleutians West Census Area has experienced 10 federally declared disasters since 2005, most recently Severe Storms, Flooding, And Remnants Of Typhoon Halong in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Aleutians West Census Area's highest-rated hazards are volcanic activity, earthquake, and tsunami, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Aleutians West Census Area has been designated in 10 declarations since 2005, covering 3 disaster types including biological (6), severe storm (3), flood (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Remnants Of Typhoon Halong |
| 2022 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm, Flooding, And Landslides |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Tidal Surges And Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 89.7 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Insufficient Data | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 17.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 4.5 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 3.1 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 87.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Relatively Moderate | 80.1 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Relatively Moderate | 87.7 | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Relatively High | 98.7 | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Aleutians West Census Area ranks in the 50th percentile (Moderate) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 50th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 26th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 2nd | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 98th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 100th | High |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 3rd | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 3rd | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 40.1% | — |
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Aleutians West Census Area?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska are volcanic activity, earthquake, and tsunami. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Aleutians West Census Area received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Aleutians West Census Area has received 10 federal disaster declarations since 2005, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is biological (6 declarations).
Has Aleutians West Census Area had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Aleutians West Census Area include Severe Storms, Flooding, And Remnants Of Typhoon Halong (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 2005.
How does Aleutians West Census Area's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Hancock County, ME has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Washington County, ME has the lowest (Relatively Low). Aleutians West Census Area is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Aleutians West Census Area's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Aleutians West Census Area's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Aleutians West Census Area's composite score of 67 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 67% of US counties.