45 flood insurance claims·$305,527 paid·21 federal flood & hurricane disasters
Share of the whole county outline, rivers and lakes included; parts FEMA hasn’t mapped count as zero.
Shaded areas are FEMA’s mapped flood hazard zones in and around Bethel Census Area, Alaska. Zoomed out they are simplified; at street level the map switches to FEMA’s exact layer. Tap anywhere to check that spot, or search an address above.
Coastal flooding and general flooding dominate the flood history of the Bethel Census Area, accounting for 20 coastal flood events, 18 general flood events, and 7 storm surge or tide events over the last 30 years according to NOAA data. Recent events illustrate these hazards, such as a strong North Pacific low that caused coastal flooding and inundated boardwalks and low-lying areas in Kwigillingok on January 10, 2025. Similarly, Bering Sea low-pressure systems in August 2024 brought persistent southerly winds, storm surge along the Kuskokwim Delta coast, and heavy rain that exacerbated flooding along the lower Kuskokwim River.
Federal insurance claims data reflect these vulnerabilities across different zones. Zone A leads with 32 claims averaging $10,306 with an average recorded water depth of 6 inches. Properties with unknown flood zones recorded 7 claims averaging $6,987 with an average water depth of 19 inches, while unshaded Zone X properties recorded 5 claims averaging $10,613 with an average water depth of 4 inches. Standard Zone X recorded 1 claim averaging $19,309 with an average water depth of 0 inches. Coastal property owners, residents living near the Kuskokwim River and Delta, and owners of properties in unmapped or Zone A areas should pay the closest attention to these flood risks.
Summary written from NOAA storm reports and NFIP claims for this county. Not a prediction.
14% of Bethel Census Area’s flood insurance claims were on properties rated outside FEMA’s high-risk zones.
37 NFIP claims with a recorded rated flood zone, 1978 to date. The zone is the one FEMA used to rate that policy, which may not match today’s map. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
In flood insurance claims here that reported a flood depth, the average was 8 inches.
Drawn to scale against an 80-inch door. Even a few inches soaks flooring, the bottom of the drywall and anything plugged in near the floor.
Average of the depths reported on claims (zero and implausible values left out); FEMA’s record doesn’t say exactly where each depth was measured. Source: OpenFEMA NFIP claims.
The worst year was 1991, with 8 claims and $129,194 paid.
Bar height is scaled by square root so ordinary years stay visible next to the worst one. NFIP claims by year of loss. Source: OpenFEMA.
17 NOAA storm reports from Bethel Census Area describe what happened, in the words of the forecasters who covered it. Read the Alaska flood stories →
45 federal disaster declarations since 1989, 21 of them floods, coastal storms or hurricanes.
| Disaster | Began |
|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Remnants Of Typhoon Halong | Oct 8, 2025 |
| Flooding | May 12, 2023 |
| Severe Storm, Flooding, And Landslides | Sep 15, 2022 |
| Flooding | May 8, 2022 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Nov 5, 2013 |
| Flooding | May 17, 2013 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Flooding | Nov 8, 2011 |
| Ice Jam And Flooding | May 8, 2011 |
Weather and water disasters only; most recent first. Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations.
45 since 1996: 18 river or area floods and 27 coastal floods or surges.
| Event | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal Flood | Jan 12, 2025 | — |
| Coastal Flood | Jan 9, 2025 | — |
| Coastal Flood | Dec 18, 2024 | — |
| Coastal Flood | Aug 15, 2024 | — |
| Coastal Flood | Nov 14, 2023 | — |
| Storm Surge/Tide | Jul 23, 2022 | — |
| Coastal Flood | Sep 15, 2022 | — |
| Storm Surge/Tide | Dec 3, 2022 | — |
— = no damage estimate in the record. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Coastal Flood · Jan 12, 2025. A large and strong low moved up the North Pacific into the eastern Bering Sea, peaking in strength as it moved up the Kuskokwim Delta. The orientation of the low's front was ideal for strong winds across Southcentral Alaska. Damaging winds were observed across parts of the Turnagain Arm, Kenai Peninsula, Matanuska Valley, and Anchorage. A significant amount of moisture also was transported by this system, causing…
Coastal Flood · Jan 9, 2025. A north Pacific low moved into the Bering and tracked northeastward into the Kuskokwim Delta Coast. Southerly winds increased to gale force strength and combined with high tides and a lack of sea ice to cause coastal flooding that inundated many boardwalks and low lying areas in Kwigillingok, Alaska on January 10th. Snow machine trails were submerged as well.
Coastal Flood · Dec 18, 2024. A deep low pressure system with multiple imbedded shortwaves moved into the Bering on December 18th, bringing precipitation and gusty winds to the Aleutian Islands and inland areas of Southwest Alaska. Winds were oriented in a southerly direction in the Kuskokwim Delta, allowing for coastal flooding to impact communities along the shore south of Bethel. Tides were elevated due to a recent full moon and there was l…
Coastal Flood · Aug 15, 2024. Two Bering Sea low pressure systems tracked into Western Alaska from August 15 through 18th bringing a period of nearly-persistent southerly winds which led to storm surge and coastal flooding along the Kuskokwim Delta coast and backed up flow along the lower Kuskokwim River. Abundant moisture drawn from the tropical West Pacific by both lows squeezed out moderate to heavy rain in Southwest Alaska, which exacerbat…
National Weather Service narratives, lightly trimmed. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Every colour on the map above is a place on this drawing: where the ground sits relative to the flood FEMA plans for.
If a building in Bethel Census Area is in a high-risk zone (A or V) and its mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, or is federally backed, flood insurance is required.
Outside those zones it is optional, and often worth having: from 2014 to 2024 nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. Since Risk Rating 2.0, NFIP premiums are set for each building, so the only reliable price is a quote: FloodSmart.gov or a local agent.