Enter any address in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska to see its FEMA flood zone
Coastal flooding and standard flood events dominate the flood profile of Kenai Peninsula Borough, driven by a combination of general floods (15 events), coastal floods (8 events), and storm surge or tide events (5 events) recorded over the last 30 years by the NOAA Storm Events Database. Recent historical impacts include a coastal flood event in November 2023 driven by strong winds and high seas, as well as a November 2024 coastal flood caused by strong winds along the Cook Inlet wedged between a Gulf of Alaska low-pressure system and a Bering Sea ridge.
National Flood Insurance Program records show claims across various zones, with the highest claim volume concentrated in Zone A with 47 claims averaging $11,932 and an average recorded water depth of 3 inches. Additional claims occurred in Zone X_UNSHADED (12 claims, averaging $15,285 and an average water depth of 27 inches), Zone X (11 claims, averaging $15,035 and an average water depth of 15 inches), and Zone D (10 claims, averaging $10,315 and an average water depth of 30 inches).
Coastal property owners and residents in designated flood zones should pay the closest attention to local flood risks, given the historical frequency of coastal flooding and the recorded payouts and water depths across both high-risk and unshaded zones.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
4 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska has recorded 28 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database. The county has received 21 federal disaster declarations, 4 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1986–2022)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Mud/Landslide | May 7, 2022 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | Oct 29, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Earthquake | Earthquake | Nov 30, 2018 |
| Severe Storm | Coastal Storm | Dec 4, 2017 |
| Card Street Fire | Fire | Jun 15, 2015 |
| Flooding | Flood | Oct 27, 2013 |
| Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides | Severe Storm | Sep 15, 2012 |
| Severe Storm | Severe Storm | Nov 15, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal Flood | Nov 16, 2024 | — |
| Coastal Flood | Nov 14, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Storm Surge/Tide | Jul 23, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Nov 1, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Dec 8, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Storm Surge/Tide | Dec 24, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Storm Surge/Tide | Dec 27, 2014 | — |
| Coastal Flood | Feb 24, 2009 | 10.00K |
| Storm Surge/Tide | Dec 27, 2007 | 0.00K |
| Coastal Flood | Oct 10, 2006 | 0.00K |
Coastal Flood — Nov 16, 2024
An area of strong winds developed along the Cook��Inlet Saturday, November 16 and Sunday, November 17, 2024, wedged between a Gulf of��Alaska low pressure system centered just south of Prince William Sound, and a ridge of high��pressure over the Bering Sea. In two unique regions of the Cook Inlet, local winds were enhanced by a disturbance��within this flow aloft��as it cros...
Coastal Flood — Nov 14, 2023
A strong low developed to the west of the Aleutian Chain late on the evening of November 13th and moved into the western Bering Sea, eventually moving east into the western coastline of Mainland Alaska by the afternoon of November 15th. Strong winds gusting as high as 77 mph affected portions of the central Aleutians as the low moved to the north while even stronger winds and seas up to 40 fee...
Storm Surge/Tide — Jul 23, 2022
A low pressure moving through the Bering brought increased surf to the Bristol Bay coastline. A tight pressure gradient due to the low brought gusty winds and helped to push the water towards the coastline raising the water levels.
Coastal Flood — Nov 1, 2022
A frontal system tracking east across the Bering Sea at the tail end of October reached the Southwest Alaska as a new low developed along the boundary between November 1st and 2nd and strengthened up until moving ashore near the Kuskokwim Delta. This system brought a multitude of impacts to portions of the region as it headed inland, ranging from minor coastal flooding due to strong onshore wi...
Coastal Flood — Dec 8, 2021
A north to south oriented frontal boundary brought periods of heavy snow, avalanche conditions, lowered visibilities, high winds and strong surf from west to east over the course of several days as the front shifted slowly east and developed into a triple point low over the western Gulf. Strong upper level dynamics and a deep moisture fetch made this an impactful storm for southern Alaska.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with a mortgage from a federally regulated or insured lender, or a federally backed loan, are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.