Natural Disaster Risk in Lake and Peninsula County

Natural Hazard Profile: Lake and Peninsula County, Alaska

Lake and Peninsula County is located in Alaska, the northernmost U.S. state in Alaska, home to roughly 1,472 residents. The county experiences subarctic conditions with extreme cold winters and brief summers, with severe winter storms shaping the natural hazards faced by its communities. FEMA assesses risk at this county level, providing the baseline for every city and ZIP code within its boundaries.

FEMA rates Lake and Peninsula County's composite natural disaster risk at 4.4 out of 10 — moderate risk. The threat of tsunami inundation tops the local coastal risk profile, requiring residents in low-lying areas to maintain awareness of evacuation routes and warning systems. Residents should also account for volcano and avalanche risk in their preparedness planning.

Lake and Peninsula County's risk score, near the 4.6/10 state average and near the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. Of the 18 hazard categories tracked by FEMA for Lake and Peninsula County, the highest-scoring are tsunami, volcano, and avalanche. These scores reflect county-level data and represent the baseline risk that all communities in the county share.

Lake and Peninsula County'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.