Dillingham Census Area, AK
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Dillingham Census Area has experienced 7 federally declared disasters since 1989, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Dillingham Census Area's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, landslide, and earthquake, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is elevated (89th percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Dillingham Census Area has been designated in 7 declarations since 1989, covering 4 disaster types including biological (3), severe storm (2), flood (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| 2002 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2000 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Avalanches |
| 1989 | Freezing | Severe Freezing |
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 | 62.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 3.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 75 | 6 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Insufficient Data | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 61.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 1.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 93.2 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 89.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | 72.4 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 1.5 | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 61.9 | — | — | — |
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
Dillingham Census Area ranks in the 89th percentile (High) 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 | 89th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 78th | High |
| Household characteristics | 74th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 99th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 93rd | 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 | 60th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 64th | Relatively High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 78.9% | — |
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 Dillingham Census Area?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Dillingham Census Area, Alaska are cold wave, landslide, and earthquake. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Dillingham Census Area received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Dillingham Census Area has received 7 federal disaster declarations since 1989, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is biological (3 declarations).
Has Dillingham Census Area had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Dillingham Census Area since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does Dillingham Census Area'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 Bristol Bay Borough, AK has the lowest (Very Low). Dillingham Census Area is rated Very Low overall.
How is Dillingham Census Area's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Dillingham 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. Dillingham Census Area's composite score of 36 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 36% of US counties.