Alaska natural disasters & FEMA declarations
AK · 19th most declarations of 51 states/DC
Alaska has had 94 federally declared disasters since 1954, the 19th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Fire (29 declarations, about 31% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Severe Storms, Flooding, And Remnants Of Typhoon Halong" (Flood), on May 29, 2026. The largest recorded earthquake in or near Alaska was magnitude 9.2.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Alaska, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Fire | 29 | 31% |
| Severe Storm | 25 | 27% |
| Flood | 19 | 20% |
| Mud/Landslide | 5 | 5% |
| Earthquake | 4 | 4% |
| Other | 4 | 4% |
| Biological | 2 | 2% |
| Coastal Storm | 2 | 2% |
| Freezing | 2 | 2% |
| Winter Storm | 1 | 1% |
| Snowstorm | 1 | 1% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Major Disaster (DR) | 66 |
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 25 |
| Emergency (EM) | 3 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Alaska's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 3 |
| 1960s | 2 |
| 1970s | 10 |
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 7 |
| 2000s | 21 |
| 2010s | 21 |
| 2020s | 25 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2026 | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Remnants Of Typhoon Halong | Flood | DR-4912-AK |
| Apr 7, 2026 | Severe Storm | Winter Storm | DR-4904-AK |
| Oct 22, 2025 | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Remnants Of Typhoon Halong | Flood | DR-4893-AK |
| Jul 6, 2025 | Nenana Ridge Complex | Fire | FM-5597-AK |
| Jun 23, 2025 | Himalaya Road Fire | Fire | FM-5596-AK |
| Jun 23, 2025 | Bear Creek Fire | Fire | FM-5595-AK |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Alaska
The strongest magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes attributed to Alaska in the USGS catalog (1900–present). Locations are matched from the USGS event description.
| Magnitude | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| M9.2 | Mar 28, 1964 | The 1964 Prince William Sound, Alaska Earthquake |
| M8.6 | Apr 1, 1946 | 1946 Unimak Island, Alaska Earthquake |
| M8.6 | Mar 9, 1957 | 1957 Atka, Alaska Earthquake |
| M8.23 | Nov 10, 1938 | 1938 Semidi Islands, Alaska Earthquake |
| M8.2 | Jul 29, 2021 | 2021 Chignik, Alaska Earthquake |
Source: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Data as of June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has Alaska had?
Alaska has had 94 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1954, the 19th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Alaska?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Alaska is "Fire", with 29 declarations — about 31% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Alaska?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Alaska in this snapshot was "Severe Storms, Flooding, And Remnants Of Typhoon Halong" (Flood), declared May 29, 2026.
What is the biggest earthquake recorded in Alaska?
The largest earthquake in or near Alaska in the USGS magnitude-6.0+ catalog is a magnitude 9.2 event on Mar 28, 1964 (The 1964 Prince William Sound, Alaska Earthquake).
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18