Bristol Bay Borough, AK
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Bristol Bay Borough has experienced 4 federally declared disasters since 1974, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Bristol Bay Borough's highest-rated hazards are earthquake, volcanic activity, and cold wave, with its top risk rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is relatively low (23rd percentile nationally), indicating stronger recovery capacity than most US counties.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Bristol Bay Borough has been designated in 4 declarations since 1974, covering 3 disaster types including biological (2), severe storm (1), freezing (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2000 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Avalanches |
| 1974 | Freezing | Freeze In Spawning Areas Of Red Salmon |
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 | Very Low | 34.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 71.9 | 26 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Insufficient Data | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 19.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.1 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 34.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 3.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Insufficient Data | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 46.3 | — | — | — |
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
Bristol Bay Borough ranks in the 23rd percentile (Very low) 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 | 23rd | Very low |
| Socioeconomic status | 12th | Very low |
| Household characteristics | 0th | Very low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 90th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 95th | 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 | 35th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 35th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 83.3% | — |
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 Bristol Bay Borough?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Bristol Bay Borough, Alaska are earthquake, volcanic activity, and cold wave. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Bristol Bay Borough received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Bristol Bay Borough has received 4 federal disaster declarations since 1974, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Bristol Bay Borough had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Bristol Bay Borough since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Bristol Bay Borough's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Lake and Peninsula Borough, AK has the lowest (Very Low). Bristol Bay Borough is rated Very Low overall.
How is Bristol Bay Borough's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Bristol Bay Borough'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. Bristol Bay Borough's composite score of 1 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 1% of US counties.