Natural Disaster Risk in Kotlik

Natural Hazard Profile: Kotlik, Alaska

Kotlik, in Kusilvak County, is a small community of about 976 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 Kotlik residents and property owners must navigate.

Kotlik's overall natural disaster risk is rated 4.5/10 (Moderate) by FEMA's National Risk Index. Cold wave events are the primary hazard risk, driven by periodic invasions of Arctic air that drive wind chills to life-threatening levels and stress heating systems. Secondary hazards include volcano and winter.

Within Alaska, Kotlik's risk is, near the 4.6/10 state average. Nationally, it ranks near the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. FEMA's analysis of Kusilvak County identifies cold wave as the foremost hazard, followed by volcano and winter. These rankings reflect the relative frequency and severity of each hazard type in the local environment.

Kotlik'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 cold wave exposure is adequately protected is a worthwhile step for property owners.