Natural hazards · Nikiski

Nikiski, AK natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Nikiski comes from earthquakes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. 2 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Nikiski?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Nikiski to be higher than in 96% of U.S. communities, mostly from earthquakes and avalanches.

Earthquakes51%Avalanches45%Everything else4%

By hazard

What Nikiski faces

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

Earthquakes

51% of expected damage

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

Avalanches

45% of expected damage

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

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

Inland floodingCoastal floodingTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesWildfireLandslidesLightningTsunamisVolcanic activity

Not a risk here

HurricanesHeat wavesStrong windDrought

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

Flood insurance claims

Does Nikiski flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Nikiski.

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Nikiski 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 Nikiski

2 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into NikiskiDeclared for Kenai Peninsula Borough only

2018

Earthquake

17 households applied for aid $61K aid approved

2003

Severe Winter Storm, Including High Winds and Freezing Temperatures

23 households applied for aid $21K aid approved

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

Around Nikiski

Nikiski and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Nikiskimostly earthquakesVery high

Salamatofmostly earthquakesVery high

Point Possessionmostly earthquakesVery 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. Nikiski is smaller than a census tract, so it shares the figures of the tract around its center.

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

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.