Kusilvak Census Area, AK
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Kusilvak Census Area has experienced 2 federally declared disasters since 2020, most recently Flooding in 2023. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Kusilvak Census Area's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, winter weather, and landslide, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is elevated (86th 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. Kusilvak Census Area has been designated in 2 declarations since 2020, covering 2 disaster types including flood (1), biological (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
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 | 46.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 24.6 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Insufficient Data | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 84.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 5.6 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | 97.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 5.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 82.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 17.5 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Insufficient Data | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 34.5 | — | — | — |
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
Kusilvak Census Area ranks in the 86th 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 | 86th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 90th | High |
| Household characteristics | 57th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 100th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 70th | Moderate |
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 | 59th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 57th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 54.9% | — |
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 Kusilvak Census Area?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Kusilvak Census Area, Alaska are cold wave, winter weather, and landslide. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Kusilvak Census Area received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Kusilvak Census Area has received 2 federal disaster declarations since 2020, including declarations in 2023. The most common disaster type on record is flood (1 declaration).
Has Kusilvak Census Area had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for Kusilvak Census Area since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Flooding in 2023.
How does Kusilvak Census Area's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Northwest Arctic Borough, AK has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Low) and Bristol Bay Borough, AK has the lowest (Very Low). Kusilvak Census Area is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Kusilvak Census Area's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Kusilvak 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. Kusilvak Census Area's composite score of 58 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 58% of US counties.