FEMA Records
20
Above median
Alaska · FEMA + NOAA + National Risk Index
Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK
20 FEMA disaster declarations (1987-2026), with a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate. Most common hazard: Severe Storm.
- 20
- FEMA declarations
- 15
- Major disasters
- 93
- NRI risk · Relatively Moderate
- Severe Storm
- Top hazard
The verdict
Two federal records point in the busier direction for Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Its 20 FEMA declarations are 177% above the Alaska county mean and exceed the count for 46% of the 3,266 counties in this registry. Separately, FEMA's National Risk Index places it in the riskiest 7%, based on modeled expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience.
- Riskiest 7%
- of U.S. counties for FEMA National Risk Index score
- Relatively Moderate
- FEMA National Risk Index rating
- 20
- FEMA declarations vs 21 national county avg
- 87
- NFIP flood insurance claims filed
FEMA's National Risk Index and its declaration registry are separate measures. This county's registry includes Fire Management Assistance (FM) records, which are not presidential disaster declarations, alongside Major Disaster (DR) and Emergency (EM) records.
How does Matanuska-Susitna Borough compare?
Matanuska-Susitna Borough vs. all counties in this dataset
FEMA disaster declarations, all-time
20 46th percentile higher than 46% of 3,266 counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 · 2026-08-03
Matanuska-Susitna Borough's FEMA Risk Index score
FEMA National Risk Index composite score vs. the Alaska county average
Which hazard drives modeled loss here?
FEMA's modeled annual dollar loss for Matanuska-Susitna Borough is led by Earthquake (about $130.6M Expected Annual Loss, Historical Loss Ratio Very High), while Avalanche carries the highest National Risk Index rating (Very High). EAL and risk score use different inputs; they need not agree.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025 release) - Expected Annual Loss vs composite risk rating by hazard.
What does Matanuska-Susitna Borough's hazard record show?
Reading the federal records together
The NFIP claims register shows a middle-volume loss record here: 87 paid claims, totaling $2.2M. PlainHazard uses 50-499 claims for this descriptive band; FEMA does not publish it as a safety or coverage category. The $25.0K average describes payments on recorded claims only, leaving uninsured damage and properties without a claim outside the measure.
The declaration register points in the busier direction. Matanuska-Susitna Borough's 20 federal records stand 177% above the Alaska county mean of 7.2. That comparison describes how often federal action was recorded, including any Major Disaster, Emergency, and Fire Management entries shown on this page; it does not convert the count into future probability.
FEMA National Risk Index
This county sits among the highest-risk counties nationally on FEMA's National Risk Index, a composite score of 93.3/100 (Relatively Moderate). Expected Annual Loss is rated Relatively Moderate (roughly $161.0M in annualized losses). Social vulnerability reads Very Low and community resilience Very Low, both critical modifiers of realized harm here. Of the 18 hazards FEMA models, Avalanche stands out as the sharpest exposure here, rated Very High. FEMA's modeled frequency puts that hazard at an average of 1.3 times per year here, based on 40 historical events on record.
Declaration frequency
The FEMA register is busy by both local and national comparisons. It contains 20 entries for Matanuska-Susitna Borough, including 15 Major Disaster records, 177% above the Alaska county mean. Across the 39-year span, that works out to 0.5 declarations a year. Severe Storm leads the file with 5 entries. Declaration type records the federal action taken, not every assistance program approved.
73 /100
Historical Activity Index
High historical activity
Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK · PlainHazard-derived composite from federal records
This 0–100 index is an explicit PlainHazard composite from FEMA declaration history only on the county surface (this DB has no county-level NOAA damage row) . It is not FEMA's National Risk Index, not a forecast, and not a safety, insurance, or preparedness rating. Open the calculator · Methodology
FEMA Declarations (1953–present) Moderate
14/30
20 OpenFEMA declarations, full ingest window (1.0x national county average)
County Disaster Density Very High
25/25
20 declarations (2.8x state county average of 7)
Major Disaster Share Very High
19/25
15 of 20 declarations are major disasters (75%)
Hazard Diversity Very High
15/20
6 different disaster types declared in Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Historical Declaration Activity
Activity Band
High
vs. Alaska Avg
+177%
State avg: 7.2
vs. National Avg
-3%
National avg: 20.7
Avg Per Year
0.5
Over 39 years
FEMA NRI 8-hazard radar - Matanuska-Susitna Borough
How to read this radar
Each axis: NRI risk rating (Very Low-Very High) on a 0-100 scale. Rounder = broad exposure; spiky = one or two hazards dominate.
Major Disaster share
75%
Mostly major
NRI risk score
93
Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Per-county per-hazard ratings, December 2025 release
How often does each hazard strike Matanuska-Susitna Borough?
FEMA's National Risk Index models a historical event count and an annualized frequency for each hazard type. Most hazards are expressed as modeled occurrences per year; FEMA expresses drought and heat-wave frequency as event-days per year. These modeled frequencies are not forecasts.
| Hazard | NRI Risk Rating | Recurrence |
|---|---|---|
| Avalanche | Very High | an average of 1.3 times per year |
| Earthquake | Relatively High | roughly once every 5 years |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | an average of 91 times per year |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 899 years |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | an average of 11 times per year |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | roughly once every 48 years |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | an average of 4 times per year |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | an average of 18 times per year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | roughly once every 100 years |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | roughly once every 67 years |
| Tsunami | Very Low | roughly once every 3 years |
| Hail | Very Low | roughly once every 159 years |
| Tornado | Very Low | roughly once every 12,216 years |
| Coastal Flooding | No Rating | roughly once every 83 years |
| Drought | No Rating | 1.1 modeled event-days per year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Modeled annualized frequency; drought and heat wave use event-days/year, December 2025 release
Disaster Types
Severe Storm 5
Flood 5
Fire 4
Earthquake 3
Biological 2
Winter Storm 1
What Severe Storm declarations mean here
Severe Storm is the most frequent declaration type on Matanuska-Susitna Borough's record, 25% of its declarations. In FEMA's vocabulary this covers convective weather: thunderstorm straight-line winds, large hail, and the multi-day outbreaks that often carry embedded tornadoes. Activity is heaviest in spring and summer, though the season varies by region.
These events behave differently from a hurricane on paper. Damage tends to be distributed along a storm track rather than concentrated on a coastline, and a declaration typically follows an outbreak that crossed several counties over a few days, not a single point of impact. Because the qualifying threshold is the cost of uninsured public and individual losses rather than storm intensity, two similar storms can produce a declaration in one year and none in another.
Declaration counts describe past federal action. They are a record of what was declared, not a forecast of future hazard probability.
Declaration Types
What DR / EM / FM mean
FEMA categorizes declarations as Major Disasters (DR), Emergencies (EM), or Fire Management Assistance (FM).
Major Disaster - 15 75.0%
of all 20 declarations
Fire Management - 3 15.0%
of all 20 declarations
Emergency - 2 10.0%
of all 20 declarations
FEMA Declarations Timeline
| Year | Declarations | |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 2 | |
| 2019 | 4 | |
| 2018 | 1 | |
| 2015 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 1 | |
| 2009 | 1 | |
| 2007 | 1 | |
| 2003 | 2 | |
| 2002 | 1 | |
| 2000 | 1 | |
| 1996 | 2 | |
| 1987 | 1 | |
Disaster Declarations
How the 20 FEMA declarations break into federal action codes (DR / EM / FM). Same DISTINCT grain as the table below.
Download these 20 declarations as CSV . FEMA source data is public domain; our derived presentation is CC0.
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4904 | SEVERE STORM | DR | Winter Storm | 2026-04-07 |
| 4646 | SEVERE WINTER STORM AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS | DR | Severe Storm | 2022-03-14 |
| 4533 | COVID-19 PANDEMIC | DR | Biological | 2020-04-09 |
| 3446 | COVID-19 | EM | Biological | 2020-03-13 |
| 5290 | DESHKA LANDING FIRE | FM | Fire | 2019-08-22 |
| 5287 | MCKINLEY FIRE | FM | Fire | 2019-08-20 |
| 4413 | EARTHQUAKE | DR | Earthquake | 2019-01-31 |
| 3410 | EARTHQUAKE | EM | Earthquake | 2018-11-30 |
| 4391 | FLOODING | DR | Flood | 2018-09-05 |
| 5084 | SOCKEYE FIRE | FM | Fire | 2015-06-15 |
| 4094 | SEVERE STORM, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, FLOODING, AND LANDSLIDES | DR | Severe Storm | 2012-11-27 |
| 1843 | FLOODING AND ICE JAMS | DR | Flood | 2009-06-11 |
| 1663 | SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES | DR | Severe Storm | 2006-10-16 |
| 1461 | SEVERE WINTER STORM, INCLUDING HIGH WINDS AND FREEZING TEMPERATURES | DR | Severe Storm | 2003-04-26 |
| 1440 | EARTHQUAKE | DR | Earthquake | 2002-11-08 |
| 1423 | FLOODING | DR | Flood | 2002-06-26 |
| 1316 | SEVERE WINTER STORMS AND AVALANCHES | DR | Severe Storm | 2000-02-17 |
| 1119 | WILDLAND FIRES | DR | Fire | 1996-06-07 |
| 1072 | FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1995-10-13 |
| 782 | SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1986-10-27 |
Storm Events in Alaska
Statewide NOAA context only. PlainHazard does not currently attribute these state totals to Matanuska-Susitna Borough.
| Storm Type | Events | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Wind | 709 | 0 | 1 | $8.4M |
| Blizzard | 524 | 0 | 0 | $60.0K |
| Heavy Snow | 439 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Winter Storm | 385 | 0 | 0 | $200.0K |
| Flood | 182 | 0 | 0 | $81.9M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database State-level aggregated data, 2015-2025
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Total Claims
87
Total Paid
$2.2M
Avg Per Claim
$25.0K
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA Claims Data
FEMA National Risk Index
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Score: 93.3/100
Expected Annual Loss
Relatively Moderate
$161.0M/year
Social Vulnerability
Very Low
Community Resilience
Very Low
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Avalanche Very High
Earthquake Relatively High
Landslide Relatively Moderate
Wildfire Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively High
Volcanic Activity Very Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively Low
Riverine Flooding Relatively Low
Ice Storm Very Low
Tsunami Very Low
Hail Very Low
Tornado Very Low
Coastal Flooding No Rating
Drought No Rating
Strong Wind No Rating
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) Ratings reflect relative scores among all US counties. Data: hazards.fema.gov/nri
The model's sharpest exposure here: Avalanche
Avalanche is the most geographically restricted hazard in the model, limited to steep terrain holding seasonal snow. Its exposure concentrates on mountain roads, rail corridors and backcountry recreation rather than on the built environment generally.
Worth noting for Matanuska-Susitna Borough: the model and the federal record do NOT point at the same hazard. Avalanche carries the highest modeled rating (Very High), while the county's declaration history is led by Severe Storm. That is not a contradiction, the two measure genuinely different things. Declarations record federal ACTION, which requires damage costly enough to exceed state and local capacity; the Risk Index models EXPECTED annual loss across all 18 hazards whether or not any declaration ever followed. A hazard can be the county's largest modeled exposure and never once have driven a declaration.
National Risk Index ratings are modeled estimates of expected annual loss, not predictions of what will happen in any given year.
Data-matched county comparisons
Matanuska-Susitna Borough's closest FEMA peer: Fulton County, IL
Comparisons use published FEMA declaration fields plus the National Risk Index composite for Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Record similarity, not a safety rating.
Closest declaration profiles
Matanuska-Susitna Borough shows 20 FEMA declarations, led by Severe Storm.
Similar Major-disaster share
Matanuska-Susitna Borough: 15 of 20 of its declarations are Major.
Similar modeled NRI score
Matanuska-Susitna Borough: NRI composite 93.3 (Relatively Moderate).
How these peers are chosen
Cohort: Published U.S. county equivalents outside the source state or territory. Each metric keeps six ETL candidates; three unique destinations are shown after de-duplicating across axes. Declaration-volume ranking combines count and Major-disaster share and prefers a different leading incident type; Major-share ranks the Major fraction adjusted for volume; NRI ranks the modeled composite score only.
Retained FEMA snapshot feed for Matanuska-Susitna Borough - capture-dated entries only.
Further reading for this county
Understanding disaster data
Matanuska-Susitna Borough's NFIP claims file (87 claims) and FEMA declaration history measure different federal records - this guide separates them from modeled NRI risk.
More PlainHazard guides
- Most disaster-prone counties - U.S. counties ranked by FEMA declaration totals.
- Understanding disaster data - declarations vs storm events vs NRI scores.
- Preparing for natural disasters - household checklist (not county-specific advice).
Related
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common disaster type in Matanuska-Susitna Borough?
The most common disaster type in Matanuska-Susitna Borough is Severe Storm, with 5 declarations. Other disaster types include Flood (5), Fire (4), Earthquake (3).
How does Matanuska-Susitna Borough's FEMA declaration record compare with the Alaska average?
FEMA lists 20 declaration records for Matanuska-Susitna Borough. That is 177% above the Alaska county mean of 7.2. Its count is also 3% below the national county mean of 20.7. A larger declaration history records more federal actions; it is not a forecast of the county's next hazard.
How many major FEMA disaster declarations has Matanuska-Susitna Borough received?
Matanuska-Susitna Borough has received 15 major disaster declarations, representing 75% of all 20 disaster declarations.
How many flood insurance claims has Matanuska-Susitna Borough filed?
Matanuska-Susitna Borough has 87 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims totaling $2.2M in payments, with an average of $25.0K per claim.
Does FEMA's top risk-rated hazard match the highest Expected Annual Loss in Matanuska-Susitna Borough?
No. In Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Avalanche has the highest National Risk Index rating (Very High), while Earthquake leads Expected Annual Loss at about $130.6M. FEMA's risk score and dollar-loss model use different inputs, so the leaders often differ.
What was the worst year for disasters in Matanuska-Susitna Borough?
The most active year for disaster declarations in Matanuska-Susitna Borough was 2019, with 4 declarations. The county has FEMA disaster data spanning 1987 to 2026.
What is the FEMA National Risk Index score for Matanuska-Susitna Borough?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska has an overall risk score of 93.3 out of 100 (Relatively Moderate). Social vulnerability here rates Very Low, while community resilience comes in at Very Low. The Expected Annual Loss (EAL) score is Relatively Moderate, representing $161.0M in annualized losses.
Which natural hazard poses the greatest risk to Matanuska-Susitna Borough?
FEMA's NRI data points to Matanuska-Susitna Borough is Avalanche (risk rating: Very High). Other significant hazards include Earthquake (Relatively High) and Landslide (Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled event frequency puts avalanche here at an average of 1.3 times per year, drawn from 40 historical events on record. These scores are based on FEMA's analysis of historical event frequency, exposed assets, and community vulnerability.
Data Sources & Methodology
Disaster declaration data comes from the FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 API, which includes all federally declared disasters, emergencies, and fire management assistance grants.
Storm event data is sourced from the NOAA Storm Events Database (2015-2025), which tracks significant weather events including thunderstorms, tornadoes, floods, and winter storms.
Flood insurance data comes from the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA claims dataset.
This data is provided for informational purposes only. FEMA disaster declarations represent federal response actions and may not capture all local emergencies or weather events.
What this means for Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK has 20 federal declaration records, 177% more than the Alaska county mean of 7; its history sits in PlainHazard's high activity band.
- Within this above-state-average declaration file, major disaster leads with 15 of 20 records; the category describes past federal action, not the next likely hazard. Alaska overview
- The state benchmark and national rank point the same way: this count tops the Alaska mean and the totals for 46% of 3,266 U.S. counties. Most-disaster rankings
- Use the data guide to separate this mid-volume insurance-claims file from declaration counts and modeled NRI risk. Disaster-data guide
An above-average declaration count records past federal responses; it does not predict the next event. Current warnings come from the National Weather Service and local emergency officials.
PlainHazard derives this profile from FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries and National Risk Index data. The declaration comparison covers 3,266 U.S. counties and county equivalents in this database, refreshed as of 2026-08-03. Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FEMA OpenFEMA, Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 - all federally-declared disasters for this county. fema.gov/openfema/disaster-declarations
- FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) - per-county per-hazard risk ratings and expected annual loss. hazards.fema.gov/nri
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database - state-level storm/severe-weather event records, 2015-2025. ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainHazard Editorial
Verify with FEMA → · Verify with FEMA NRI → · Verify with NOAA →
Every figure on PlainHazard is rendered directly from FEMA federal disaster data, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or national statistics report, the data & editorial changelog, or report a data error.