Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska
Census Area storm and disaster record · FIPS 02261 · 34,222 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 983 records for Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 754 days; the most frequent are high wind and dust records (477 records). 983 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the January 12, 2002 avalanche, filed for the forecast zone Copper River Basin, which covers the county: 2 deaths, 1 injury and $9,844 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 9 declarations naming the county since 1986, 7 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides” on November 27, 2012.
The Census Bureau's 2025 county list has the Chugach and Copper River census areas in place of Valdez-Cordova. NOAA files records under the newer codes; they are counted here, under the code FEMA uses.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 983on 754 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 147 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $21Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- FEMA declarations
- 9latest 2020
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Valdez-Cordova Census Area most?
The most frequent records are high wind and dust records: 477 since 1997. The rank column places the county among Alaska's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High wind and dust storms | 477 | 395 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 1 | $1.4M | 16 of 29 |
| Winter storms | 443 | 374 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | $391K | 18 of 29 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 28 | 27 | 1998-2024 | 13 | 5 | $1.1M | 9 of 29 |
| Extreme cold | 17 | 16 | 1999-2026 | 1 | 1 | $443K | 16 of 29 |
| Floods | 12 | 12 | 1997-2015 | 0 | 0 | $18M | 20 of 29 |
| Wildfires | 5 | 4 | 2023-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 23 of 29 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 1 | 1 | 2018-2018 | 0 | 0 | $90K | 14 of 29 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
When was the last damaging storm in Valdez-Cordova Census Area?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the January 28, 2017 avalanche (1 death).
Two snowmachiners triggered an avalanche near Snug Harbor, Alaska. One person escaped and was able to locate the other person, who was already deceased. This was reported in the Alaska Dispatch News.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 670672)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-24 | BlizzardValdez-Cordova Census Area · forecast zone Northern Copper Valley | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-19 | High WindValdez-Cordova Census Area · forecast zone Thompson Pass | 84 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-09 | BlizzardValdez-Cordova Census Area · forecast zone Thompson Pass | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-06 | BlizzardValdez-Cordova Census Area · forecast zone West Prince William Sound And Whittier | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-02 | Cold/Wind ChillValdez-Cordova Census Area · forecast zone Southern Copper Valley | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-02 | Cold/Wind ChillValdez-Cordova Census Area · forecast zone Central Copper Valley | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-08-06 | WildfireValdez-Cordova Census Area · forecast zone Tok Cutoff | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-08-06 | WildfireValdez-Cordova Census Area · forecast zone Central Copper Valley | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-21 | WildfireValdez-Cordova Census Area · forecast zone Central Copper Valley | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-28 | BlizzardValdez-Cordova Census Area and Matanuska-Susitna Borough · forecast zone Copper River Basin | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-28 | BlizzardValdez-Cordova Census Area · forecast zone Northeast Prince William Sound | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-26 | Heavy SnowValdez-Cordova Census Area · forecast zone Northeast Prince William Sound | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-01-12 | AvalancheValdez-Cordova Census Area and Matanuska-Susitna Borough · forecast zone Copper River Basin Three people were buried by an avalanche while snowmachining on an unsupported cornice. One was dug out of the snow by her husband. | 2 | 1 | $10K | |
| 2001-12-12 | AvalancheValdez-Cordova Census Area · forecast zone Sern P.W. Snd Fresh snowfall and apparent wind loading occurred during the days before the event. Five people were out on snowmachines in the Cordova area. One snowmachine became stuck, two individuals attempted to dig it out. An avalanche quickly ensued. Two were buried. One person was dug out and survived. The body of the other, ... | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2001-03-18 | AvalancheValdez-Cordova Census Area and Matanuska-Susitna Borough · forecast zone Copper River Basin Another avalanche death, 6 miles east of the Richardson Monument at Mile 198 of the Richardson Highway (about 70 miles south of Delta Junction), was reported in Monday's Anchorage Daily News. The avalanche occurred about 3 pm Sunday, March 18, 2001.A group of snowmachiners were out for the day and stopped behind ... | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2000-01-26 | AvalancheValdez-Cordova Census Area and Yakutat City and Borough · forecast zone Central Gulf Coast Avalanche was reported at 5.5 mile on the road from the community of Cordova to the airport. The avalanche obliterated 4 homes and 1 warehouse. In one of the homes, two individuals were buried, one recovered after nearly 6 hours, the other deceased. The community suffered successive heavy snows and strong winds in the ... | 1 | 1 | $857K | |
| 1999-02-03 | Cold/Wind ChillValdez-Cordova Census Area and Yakutat City and Borough · forecast zone Central Gulf Coast Wind chills as low as 107 degrees below zero continued at Cantwell, in the northern Susitna Valley, briefly improving from the 2nd to the 4th as the cold snap went into its second week. Around Anchorage, temperatures remained below 20 degrees from the 25th of January until the 13th of February. Temperatures on the ... | 1 | 1 | $443K | |
| 2017-01-28 | AvalancheAnchorage Municipality and 2 more · forecast zone Wrn P.W. Snd & Kenai Mtns Two snowmachiners triggered an avalanche near Snug Harbor, Alaska. One person escaped and was able to locate the other person, who was already deceased. This was reported in the Alaska Dispatch News. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2016-04-11 | AvalancheValdez-Cordova Census Area and Matanuska-Susitna Borough · forecast zone Copper River Basin A Snowmachiner got caught in an avalanche near Paxson Monday April 11 around 12:10 PM AKDT. He was found buried beneath 5 to 7 feet of snow. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2016-02-27 | AvalancheValdez-Cordova Census Area and Matanuska-Susitna Borough · forecast zone Copper River Basin A person riding a snow mobile in a remote area was caught in an avalanche and perished. The area was only accessible by helicopter or snow mobile. | 1 | 0 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-11-05 | Coastal FloodValdez-Cordova Census Area and Yakutat City and Borough · forecast zone Cape Fairweather To Cape Suckling Coastal Area | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | |
| 2000-01-26 | AvalancheValdez-Cordova Census Area and Yakutat City and Borough · forecast zone Central Gulf Coast | 1 | 1 | $857K | |
| 1999-02-03 | Cold/Wind ChillValdez-Cordova Census Area and Yakutat City and Borough · forecast zone Central Gulf Coast | 1 | 1 | $443K | |
| 1999-12-21 | Heavy SnowValdez-Cordova Census Area and Yakutat City and Borough · forecast zone Central Gulf Coast | 0 | 0 | $354K | |
| 2011-03-02 | High WindValdez-Cordova Census Area · forecast zone Nern P.W. Snd | 63 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $266K |
| 2012-12-31 | High WindAnchorage Municipality and 2 more · forecast zone Wrn P.W. Snd & Kenai Mtns | 65 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $26K |
| 2002-01-12 | AvalancheValdez-Cordova Census Area and Matanuska-Susitna Borough · forecast zone Copper River Basin | 2 | 1 | $10K | |
| 1999-04-15 | AvalancheValdez-Cordova Census Area and Yakutat City and Borough · forecast zone Central Gulf Coast | 1 | 0 | $4K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Valdez-Cordova Census Area's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 81 | 252 | 120 | 24 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 19 | 161 | 144 | 119 |
| Landslides and avalanches | – | – | – | – | 4 | 15 | 7 | 2 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 1 | 9 | 0 | 7 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Valdez-Cordova Census Area. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 181 · Feb 162 · Mar 126 · Apr 46 · May 16 · Jun 6 · Jul 6 · Aug 8 · Sep 41 · Oct 70 · Nov 134 · Dec 187 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Valdez-Cordova Census Area
FEMA's register lists 9 declarations that include Valdez-Cordova Census Area: 8 major disasters, one emergency and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (4) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-04-09 | DR-4533 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3446 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2012-11-27 | DR-4094 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2006-12-08 | DR-1669 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2006-10-16 | DR-1663 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2002-11-08 | DR-1440 | Earthquake | Earthquake |
| 2000-02-17 | DR-1316 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Avalanches |
| 1989-05-10 | DR-826 | Freezing | Severe Freezing |
| 1986-10-27 | DR-782 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Valdez-Cordova Census Area had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 12 flood or flash flood records for Valdez-Cordova Census Area from 1997 to 2015, on 12 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Valdez-Cordova Census Area ranks 2436th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $68,000 on 8 claims filed in Valdez-Cordova Census Area; the most in one year was 4 in 2006. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1981: 1 · 1986: 1 · 1994: 1 · 2006: 4 · 2007: 1; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
Next
- High wind and dust storms in AlaskaThe state's high wind and dust records, by county, year and month
- The Alaska recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- Download Valdez-Cordova Census Area's FEMA declarations (CSV)9 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis