North Slope Borough, AK
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
North Slope Borough has experienced 8 federally declared disasters since 1987, most recently Covid-19 in 2020. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
North Slope Borough's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, winter weather, and avalanche, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is elevated (77th 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. North Slope Borough has been designated in 8 declarations since 1987, covering 4 disaster types including severe storm (4), biological (2), coastal storm (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm |
| 2016 | Coastal Storm | Severe Storm |
| 2012 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| 2008 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| 2005 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1987 | Flood | Coastal Storm, High Winds & Waves |
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 | 11.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 2.6 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 50.2 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Insufficient Data | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | 82 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 6.8 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | 84.8 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 0.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 13.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 60.4 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
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
North Slope Borough ranks in the 77th 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 | 77th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 43rd | Low |
| Household characteristics | 46th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 96th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 99th | 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 | 20th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 19th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 23.0% | — |
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 North Slope Borough?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in North Slope Borough, Alaska are cold wave, winter weather, and avalanche. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has North Slope Borough received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. North Slope Borough has received 8 federal disaster declarations since 1987, including declarations in 2020. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (4 declarations).
Has North Slope Borough had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
No federal disaster declarations have been recorded for North Slope Borough since the start of 2024. Its most recent declaration on record is Covid-19 in 2020.
How does North Slope Borough's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Denali Borough, AK has the lowest (Very Low). North Slope Borough is rated Very Low overall.
How is North Slope Borough's composite disaster risk index calculated?
North Slope 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. North Slope Borough's composite score of 15 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 15% of US counties.