The weather in Alaska tends not to be as volatile as it does in other states. However, that does not mean that Alaska is not prone to natural disasters, including volcanic eruptions, wildfire, and avalanches.
Volcanic eruptions are more common than you may think. In March 2016, the Pavlof Volcano erupted, sending a smoke plume nearly 40,000 feet into the air. The smoke from the volcano spread for more
than 400 miles, dumping ash and soot across the state. The smoke also resulted in poor visibility and air quality. Airlines flying out of Anchorage, which is almost 600 miles away from the eruption site, were forced to ground due to the poor visibility.
Alaska tends to be quite prone to wildfire as well. The state is quite lush, which provides ample fuel to fires. In 2004, more than 700 wildfires swept through the state of Alaska. This series of wildfires were the worst in Alaskan history, burning more than 6.6 million acres of land.
Ten years later, the state saw another outbreak of wildfires. 2014 ended up being the second-worst wildfire season in Alaska history, second only to 2004. In 2014, nearly a quarter-million acres of land
burned. Dry weather contributed to the severity of the wildfires.
Lastly, snowfall in Alaska can pose problems as well. Anchorage receives nearly 80 inches of snow each year. But, if you were to head a bit further north to Talkeetna, you’ll find average snowfall rates of more than 175 inches. This heavy snowfall does not come without consequences, most notably in the form of avalanches. The Seward Highway Avalanches of 2000 blocked access from Anchorage to the Kenai Peninsula, resulting in a state emergency.
Alaska does not currently have a FAIR Plan in place. The property insurance market in Alaska tends to be quite stable. Insurers and state legislators don’t feel as though there are enough high-risk homes in the area to justify FAIR Plan insurance. There are two primary reasons for this. One, the area tends not to see as many natural disasters as other states. Two, the population in Alaska is quite sparse, as it ranks 48th in the nation in terms of population.
So, what are you to do if your insurance agency deems you high-risk and will no longer insure you? In these cases, you’ll want to look into alternatives to the Alaska FAIR Plan. The private market exists to
help protect those on high-risk properties who need coverage at an affordable rate.