Haines Borough, AK
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Haines Borough has experienced 3 federally declared disasters since 2020, most recently Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides in 2021. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Haines Borough's highest-rated hazards are landslide, avalanche, and earthquake, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Haines Borough has been designated in 3 declarations since 2020, covering 2 disaster types including biological (2), mud/landslide (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Mud/Landslide | Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
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 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 0.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 64.5 | 79 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Insufficient Data | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 50.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 2.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 10.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 96.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Relatively High | 89.2 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 20 | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 16 | — | — | — |
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
Haines Borough ranks in the 46th percentile (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 | 46th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 27th | Low |
| Household characteristics | 28th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 63rd | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 79th | 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 | 6th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 6th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 72.7% | — |
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 Haines Borough?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Haines Borough, Alaska are landslide, avalanche, and earthquake. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Haines Borough received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Haines Borough has received 3 federal disaster declarations since 2020, including declarations in 2021. The most common disaster type on record is biological (2 declarations).
Has Haines Borough had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Haines Borough since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides in 2021.
How does Haines Borough's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Sitka City and Borough, AK has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Very Low) and Skagway Municipality, AK has the lowest (Very Low). Haines Borough is rated Very Low overall.
How is Haines Borough's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Haines 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. Haines Borough's composite score of 4 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 4% of US counties.