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Maui County, Hawaii

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Moderate overall risk
3rd of 5highest risk in Hawaii
$132Mexpected losses a year
31federal declarations
1 in 21homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

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

$59.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • 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.

Earthquake

Moderate
$32.8 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 25 years.
  • Ask whether an older house is bolted to its foundation.
  • Consider separate earthquake insurance where risk is high.
$31.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • Learn the tsunami evacuation route signs.
  • If you feel a strong quake near the coast, move to high ground right away.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingHigh93.7
$59M
EarthquakeModerate97.1
$33M
TsunamiHigh90.8
$31M
WildfireModerate95.3
$4M
Volcanic activityHigh98.4
$2M
LightningHigh93.3
$2M
HurricaneLow69.5
$553K
Coastal floodingLow54.0
$246K
TornadoVery Low5.9
$25K
DroughtVery Low19.3
$3K
HailVery Low2.2
$3K
Strong windVery Low1.2
$3K
LandslideVery Low55.8
$2K
Ice stormVery Low3.5
$1K
Winter weatherVery Low1.4
$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

Fire10
Hurricane7
Flood5
Severe Storm5
Earthquake1
Tsunami1

Most recent

Oct 7, 2026Hurricane LalaMajor disaster
Oct 7, 2026Hurricane LowellMajor disaster
Sep 25, 2026Tropical Storm NoloEmergency
Apr 7, 2026Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 23, 2025Holomua FireFire management
Aug 10, 2023Wildfires and High WindsMajor disaster
Aug 9, 2023Pulehu FireFire management
Aug 9, 2023Upcountry FireFire management
Aug 9, 2023Lahaina FireFire management
Feb 15, 2022Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Show all 31
May 13, 2021Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Jul 25, 2020Hurricane DouglasEmergency
Oct 23, 2019Kahana Ridge FireFire management
Sep 27, 2018Hurricane LaneMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2018Tropical Storm OliviaEmergency
Aug 22, 2018Hurricane LaneEmergency
Oct 6, 2016Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2014Tropical Storm IselleMajor disaster
Apr 18, 2012Severe Storms, Flooding, and LandslidesMajor disaster
Apr 8, 2011Tsunami WavesMajor disaster
Jun 9, 2010Maalaea FireFire management
Aug 31, 2009Kaunakakai FireFire management
Feb 6, 2008Severe Storms, High Surf, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Jun 28, 2007Olowalu FireFire management
Oct 17, 2006EarthquakeMajor disaster
Sep 2, 2006Ma'Alaea FireFire management
Nov 9, 2000Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 12, 1992Hurricane InikiMajor disaster
Apr 22, 1982Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 6, 1980Severe Storms, High Surf & FloodingMajor disaster
Sep 13, 1968Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

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.

5tornadoes
3hail reports, largest 1.75 inches
9damaging thunderstorm winds
189floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 23, 2006F0Kaumalapau Harbor0 / 0
Mar 25, 2006F0Haiku0 / 0
Sep 23, 2008EF0Lanai Airport0 / 0
Feb 11, 2011EF0I Kihei0 / 0
Apr 22, 1967n/a–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 13, 2026Flash FloodHonokohau$20M
Mar 8, 2021Flash FloodHaiku$14M
Mar 21, 2026Flash FloodIlio Point$10M
Jan 29, 2002Flash FloodCountywide$3M
Aug 6, 2003WildfireKahului$1M
May 1, 2022Flash FloodMakena$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.

1hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
2020most recent: Douglas

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 26, 2020DouglasCategory 1, 85 mph59 mi
Sep 12, 2018OliviaTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Jul 26, 2020DouglasCategory 1, 85 mph59 mi
Sep 12, 2018OliviaTropical storm, 45 mph60 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 ›
4.8%of homes have federal flood insurance (2,033 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$26.1 millionpaid on 819 flood claims since 1978
2026costliest year, with $10.2 million paid

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

$904,700median home value (Hawaii $839,100, US $332,700)
1985median year homes were built (Hawaii 1980, US 1980)
40%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
0.6%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

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 countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Honolulu CountyHighInland flooding
Hawaii CountyHighInland flooding
Maui CountyModerateInland flooding
Kauai CountyModerateInland flooding
Kalawao CountyVery LowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Kalawao CountyVery Low1

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.