Maui County, Hawaii
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Maui County, Hawaii has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 93% of US counties. It ranks 3rd of 5 counties in Hawaii. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, earthquakes and tsunamis. FEMA estimates about $132 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $803 per resident. Since 1968 it has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in October 2026 (Hurricane Lala). About 1 in 21 homes here carry federal flood insurance (2,033 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $26 million on 819 claims here, including $10 million for floods in 2026.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Maui County
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
- Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
- Learn the tsunami evacuation route signs.
- If you feel a strong quake near the coast, move to high ground right away.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 93.7 | $59M | ||
| Earthquake | 97.1 | $33M | ||
| Tsunami | 90.8 | $31M | ||
| Wildfire | 95.3 | $4M | ||
| Volcanic activity | 98.4 | $2M | ||
| Lightning | 93.3 | $2M | ||
| Hurricane | 69.5 | $553K | ||
| Coastal flooding | 54.0 | $246K | ||
| Tornado | 5.9 | $25K | ||
| Drought | 19.3 | $3K | ||
| Hail | 2.2 | $3K | ||
| Strong wind | 1.2 | $3K | ||
| Landslide | 55.8 | $2K | ||
| Ice storm | 3.5 | $1K | ||
| Winter weather | 1.4 | $168 |
Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively moderate and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Maui County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 31
Hawaii also had 10 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1967
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 869 storm reports in Maui County since 1967, with 8 deaths and 10 injuries and about $50.6 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F0 tornado on March 23, 2006 near Kaumalapau Harbor.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 23, 2006 | F0 | Kaumalapau Harbor | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 25, 2006 | F0 | Haiku | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 23, 2008 | EF0 | Lanai Airport | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 11, 2011 | EF0 | I Kihei | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 22, 1967 | n/a | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 2026 | Flash Flood | Honokohau | $20M |
| Mar 8, 2021 | Flash Flood | Haiku | $14M |
| Mar 21, 2026 | Flash Flood | Ilio Point | $10M |
| Jan 29, 2002 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $3M |
| Aug 6, 2003 | Wildfire | Kahului | $1M |
| May 1, 2022 | Flash Flood | Makena | $1M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Apr 7, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane risk by county ›Since 2018, 1 hurricane and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Maui County, 2 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Douglas (2020), with top winds near 85 mph about 59 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 26, 2020 | Douglas | Category 1, 85 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 12, 2018 | Olivia | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 60 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 26, 2020 | Douglas | Category 1, 85 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 12, 2018 | Olivia | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 60 mi |
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.
Flood insurance in Maui County
Check your address flood zone ›National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.
Homes in Maui County
Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 72,279 housing units.
Compare in Hawaii
All 5 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu County | Inland flooding | |
| Hawaii County | Inland flooding | |
| Maui County | Inland flooding | |
| Kauai County | Inland flooding | |
| Kalawao County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Kalawao County | 1 |
Cities in Maui County
Common questions about Maui County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Maui County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Maui County, about $59.4 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Earthquake is second at $32.8 million.
How many federal disasters has Maui County had?
Maui County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1968, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Hurricane Lala in October 2026.
Is Maui County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 3rd highest of 5 in Hawaii. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.
Do I need flood insurance in Maui County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 21 homes in Maui County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Maui County had?
NOAA records list 5 tornadoes in Maui County since 1950. The strongest was an F0 tornado on March 23, 2006 near Kaumalapau Harbor. The weather service has also logged 3 hail reports and 189 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Maui County?
NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Maui County. The strongest was Hurricane Douglas (2020), with winds near 85 mph.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.