Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, AK
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area has experienced 2 federally declared disasters since 2020, most recently Severe Storm, Flooding, And Landslides in 2024. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area's highest-rated hazards are landslide, volcanic activity, and earthquake, with its top risk rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Community vulnerability is elevated (82nd 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. Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area has been designated in 2 declarations since 2020, covering 2 disaster types including mud/landslide (1), biological (1).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Mud/Landslide | Severe Storm, Flooding, And Landslides |
| 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 | 10.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 3.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Very Low | 43 | 3 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Insufficient Data | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 33.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 17.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 3.5 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Very Low | 1.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | No Rating | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | 93.7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 39.5 | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 33.8 | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Relatively Low | 90.9 | — | — | — |
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
Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area ranks in the 82nd 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 | 82nd | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 60th | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 63rd | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 90th | High |
| Housing type & transportation | 95th | 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 | 4th | Very Low |
| Risk to homes | 4th | Very Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 61.9% | — |
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 Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska are landslide, volcanic activity, and earthquake. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area has received 2 federal disaster declarations since 2020, including declarations in 2024. The most common disaster type on record is mud/landslide (1 declaration).
Has Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area include Severe Storm, Flooding, And Landslides (2024). See the declarations table above for the full history since 2020.
How does Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area'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 Wrangell City and Borough, AK has the lowest (Very Low). Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area is rated Very Low overall.
How is Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Prince of Wales-Hyder 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. Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area's composite score of 1 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 1% of US counties.