Natural Disasters in Bettles, AK

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

61.5

Relatively Low

Expected Annual Loss

43.4

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

99.4

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

7.1

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Cold Wave97.3Landslide94.8Wildfire93.0

Hazard	Risk Score
Cold Wave	97.3
Landslide	94.8
Wildfire	93.0
Avalanche	84.1
Winter Weather	79.6
Earthquake	75.3
Volcanic Activity	40.4
Ice Storm	19.4
Lightning	13.6
Strong Wind	0.9
Hail	0.7
Tornado	0.7

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster Declarations

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

Most Recent

Flood

Oct 2025

Most Common Type

Flood

8 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Oct 22, 2025	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND REMNANTS OF TYPHOON HALONG
Jul 6, 2025	Fire	NENANA RIDGE COMPLEX
Aug 23, 2023	Flood	FLOODING
Jun 26, 2022	Fire	CLEAR FIRE
Mar 24, 2022	Severe Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM AND STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS
Apr 9, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Jun 25, 2013	Flood	FLOODING
Jun 11, 2009	Flood	FLOODING AND ICE JAMS
Sep 26, 2008	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES
Aug 4, 2006	Flood	SNOW MELT AND ICE JAM FLOODING
Jun 8, 2006	Fire	PARKS HIGHWAY (TAMARACK) FIRE
Nov 8, 2002	Earthquake	EARTHQUAKE
Jun 26, 2002	Flood	FLOODING
Sep 13, 1994	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
May 30, 1991	Snowstorm	HEAVY SNOW, ICE JAMS & FLOODING
Jun 10, 1989	Flood	FLOODING
May 10, 1989	Freezing	SEVERE FREEZING
Oct 27, 1986	Flood	SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

Total Claims Paid

$3,341,499

Avg Claim Payout

$46,410

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$10,220,030

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

1.05

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan	8	$1,523,891
202.3: Elevation of Public Structures - Riverine	5	$548,050
202.1: Elevation of Private Structures - Riverine; 202.3: Elevation of Public Structures - Riverine	3	$5,134,636
95.1: FMA or CRS Plan	2	$20,766
91.3: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan - UPDATE; 93.2: Tribal Multihazard Mitigation Plan - NEW; 93.5: Tribal Multijurisdictional Multihazard Mitigation Plan - UPDATE	2	$345,964

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Bettles has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are cold wave, landslide, wildfire. The area has had 19 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is flood (8 declarations). 72 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. 24 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.