Natural Disaster Risk in Skagway County

Natural Hazard Profile: Skagway County, Alaska

Skagway County is located in Alaska, the northernmost U.S. state in Alaska, home to roughly 1,238 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 Skagway County's composite natural disaster risk at 3.8 out of 10 — low 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 avalanche and landslide risk in their preparedness planning.

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

Skagway County carries a below-average natural disaster risk, reflecting fewer and less severe hazard exposures than typical U.S. communities. Even so, the area's primary risk — tsunami — warrants awareness and appropriate insurance coverage, as lower risk does not mean zero risk.