Natural hazards · Homer

Homer, AK natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Homer comes from avalanches, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2017. 5 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Homer?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Homer to be higher than in 92% of U.S. communities, mostly from avalanches and earthquakes.

Avalanches49%Earthquakes37%Tsunamis12%Everything else2%

By hazard

What Homer faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Avalanches

49% of expected damage

Well below average · higher than 0% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Earthquakes

37% of expected damage

Well above average · among the top 1% of U.S. places

Tsunamis

12% of expected damage

Well above average · among the top 1% of U.S. places

Lower here

Inland floodingCoastal floodingHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesWildfireLandslidesVolcanic activity

Not a risk here

HurricanesTornadoesHeat wavesStrong windLightningDrought

Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Homer flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Homer, from FEMA’s records.

2paid claims since 2017

$62Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

20172026

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Homer isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Kenai Peninsula Borough.

Disasters that hit Homer

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Homer itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Homer.

Brought FEMA money into HomerDeclared for Kenai Peninsula Borough only

2018

Earthquake

11 households applied for aid $38K aid approved

2011

Severe Storm

$100K to the City of Homer for repairs

2003

Severe Winter Storm, Including High Winds and Freezing Temperatures

9 households applied for aid $3K aid approved

2002

Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Coastal Erosion and Tidal Surge

154 households applied for aid $231K aid approved $567K to the City of Homer for repairs

1999

Severe Winter Storms and Avalanches

$13K to the City of Homer for repairs

Kenai Peninsula Borough has had 17 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around Homer

Homer and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Homermostly avalanchesVery high

Diamond Ridgemostly avalanchesVery high

Kachemakmostly avalanchesVery high

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Homer covers 1 census tract, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Homer’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Homer. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Homer total about $20.1M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.