Natural Disaster Risk in Kake

Natural Hazard Profile: Kake, Alaska

Kake, in Prince of Wales-Hyder County, is a small community of about 629 situated in Alaska, the northernmost U.S. state. Its subarctic climate brings subarctic conditions with extreme cold winters and brief summers, and in particular severe winter storms. These conditions collectively define the natural hazard environment that Kake residents and property owners must navigate.

According to FEMA's National Risk Index, Kake carries an overall risk score of 4.1/10, placing it in the moderate category. Tsunami risk is the primary coastal hazard, driven by the area's proximity to seismically active offshore zones capable of generating ocean waves that inundate low-lying coastlines. The area also faces notable exposure to volcano and landslide.

Within Alaska, Kake's risk is, slightly below the 4.6/10 state average. Nationally, it ranks near the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. FEMA's analysis of Prince of Wales-Hyder County identifies tsunami as the foremost hazard, followed by volcano and landslide. These rankings reflect the relative frequency and severity of each hazard type in the local environment.

Kake's moderate risk profile means that while catastrophic events are less frequent, they do occur. Standard homeowners insurance typically covers many common hazards here, but confirming that tsunami exposure is adequately protected is a worthwhile step for property owners.