Natural Disaster Risk in Saint Marys

Natural Hazard Profile: Saint Marys, Alaska

Saint Marys, in Kusilvak County, is a small community of about 979 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 Saint Marys residents and property owners must navigate.

Saint Marys'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, Saint Marys'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.

Saint Marys'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.