Photo: Federal Aviation Administration, Alaska Region · Public domainFEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Big Lake than in 98% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Big Lake gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns, #39 of 41 in Alaska. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (90%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2002.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Big Lake faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Earthquakes
River and rain flooding
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Big Lake’s grade
Earthquakes are 90% of the building damage FEMA expects in Big Lake, and Big Lake’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 4%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #39 of 41 in Alaska; higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Big Lake’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Alaska town has higher expected damage than 93% of U.S. towns; within the state, Big Lake has more expected damage per building than 95% of Alaska towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $7.9M a year in losses across Big Lake: $6.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Big Lake flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2002
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Big Lake, from FEMA’s records: 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Big Lake isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Matanuska-Susitna Borough.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Big Lake
Disasters that paid out in Big Lake itself (aid to households or repair grants to Big Lake), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2018Earthquake187 households applied for aid$773K aid approved
- 2003Severe Winter Storm, Including High Winds and Freezing Temperatures21 households applied for aid$43K aid approved
Matanuska-Susitna Borough has had 14 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.
Also 3 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, 2015–2019.
Old photos of Big Lake after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Big Lake archive →Big Lake and its neighbors
Big Lake is 5th of the 6 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willow | D−more damage than 96% | earthquakes | 11 |
| Knik-Fairview | D−more damage than 96% | earthquakes | — |
| Point MacKenzie | D−more damage than 97% | earthquakes | — |
| Meadow Lakes | D−more damage than 97% | earthquakes | 5 |
| Big Lake | D−more damage than 98% | earthquakes | 1 |
| Houston | D−more damage than 98% | earthquakes | 4 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Big Lake faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Big Lake
Is Big Lake at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Big Lake has higher expected damage per building than 98% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk, #39 of 41 in Alaska. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (90%) and river and rain flooding (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Big Lake flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Big Lake since 2002, $6K in all, or 0.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 93% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Big Lake in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Matanuska-Susitna Borough, 23% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Big Lake?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Big Lake’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Big Lake?
By FEMA money that reached Big Lake, Earthquake (2018): 187 households applied for aid, $773K approved.
Is Big Lake at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (90%), and Big Lake’s rate for it is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Big Lake.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Big Lake’s residents lived in the 2020 census; 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. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.