Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Matanuska-Susitna Borough has experienced 20 federally declared disasters since 1987, most recently Severe Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Matanuska-Susitna Borough's highest-rated hazards are avalanche, earthquake, and landslide, with its top risk rated "Very High" by FEMA's National Risk Index.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Matanuska-Susitna Borough has been designated in 20 declarations since 1987, covering 6 disaster types including severe storm (5), flood (5), fire (4).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Storm |
| 2022 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019 | Fire | Mckinley Fire |
| 2019 | Earthquake | Earthquake |
| 2019 | Earthquake | Earthquake |
| 2019 | Fire | Deshka Landing Fire |
| 2018 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2015 | Fire | Sockeye Fire |
Showing the 10 most recent of 20 total declarations since 1987.
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 | Relatively Moderate | 94.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 51.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively High | 98.9 | 664 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Insufficient Data | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | 93.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 17 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | 61.4 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 54.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 96.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very High | 99.9 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 9.2 | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 80.8 | — | — | — |
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
Matanuska-Susitna Borough ranks in the 48th 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 | 48th | Low |
| Socioeconomic status | 55th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 41st | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 58th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 35th | Low |
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 | 76th | Relatively High |
| Risk to homes | 80th | Very High |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 92.2% | — |
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 Matanuska-Susitna Borough?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska are avalanche, earthquake, and landslide. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Moderate — near the middle compared to other US counties.
Has Matanuska-Susitna Borough received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Matanuska-Susitna Borough has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1987, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (5 declarations).
Has Matanuska-Susitna Borough had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Matanuska-Susitna Borough include Severe Storm (2026). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1987.
How does Matanuska-Susitna Borough's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Anchorage Municipality, AK has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively High) and Chugach Census Area, AK has the lowest (Very Low). Matanuska-Susitna Borough is rated Relatively Moderate overall.
How is Matanuska-Susitna Borough's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Matanuska-Susitna 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. Matanuska-Susitna Borough's composite score of 93 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 93% of US counties.