Tsunami risk by county
Sea waves set off by undersea earthquakes. The Pacific coast, Alaska and Hawaii carry most of the US risk.
Highest expected losses
| # | County | Rating | A year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grays Harbor County, WA | $121M | |
| 2 | Del Norte County, CA | $114M | |
| 3 | Clatsop County, OR | $100M | |
| 4 | Pacific County, WA | $84M | |
| 5 | Honolulu County, HI | $48M | |
| 6 | Humboldt County, CA | $33M | |
| 7 | Maui County, HI | $31M | |
| 8 | Aleutians West Census Area, AK | $20M | |
| 9 | Curry County, OR | $17M | |
| 10 | Hawaii County, HI | $15M | |
| 11 | Coos County, OR | $11M | |
| 12 | Kodiak Island Borough, AK | $11M | |
| 13 | Clallam County, WA | $10M | |
| 14 | Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK | $10M | |
| 15 | Kauai County, HI | $9M |
Big counties lead this list partly because they have more people and buildings at risk.
Highest per resident
| # | County (100,000+ people) | Per person a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Humboldt County, CA | $245 |
| 2 | Maui County, HI | $191 |
| 3 | Hawaii County, HI | $74 |
| 4 | Honolulu County, HI | $47 |
| 5 | Santa Cruz County, CA | $28 |
| 6 | Marin County, CA | $24 |
| 7 | Kitsap County, WA | $15 |
| 8 | San Luis Obispo County, CA | $12 |
| 9 | San Mateo County, CA | $9 |
| 10 | Anchorage Municipality, AK | $8 |
Expected yearly loss divided by population. A fairer way to compare places of different size.
Lowest risk among large counties
| # | County (250,000+ people) | Rating | Per person a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snohomish County, WA | under $1 | |
| 2 | Santa Clara County, CA | under $1 | |
| 3 | Solano County, CA | under $1 | |
| 4 | Thurston County, WA | under $1 | |
| 5 | Los Angeles County, CA | under $1 | |
| 6 | San Diego County, CA | under $1 | |
| 7 | Sonoma County, CA | under $1 | |
| 8 | Lane County, OR | under $1 | |
| 9 | Santa Barbara County, CA | under $1 | |
| 10 | Orange County, CA | under $1 |
How ratings are spread
The lists above show only the top counties, so they are all rated high. Across all 65 rated counties, most are Low or Very Low:
How to prepare
- Learn the tsunami evacuation route signs.
- If you feel a strong quake near the coast, move to high ground right away.
- Know whether your home is in a mapped inundation zone.
States where it is most often the top hazard
Common questions
Which US county has the highest tsunami risk?
Grays Harbor County, WA has the highest expected yearly tsunami losses in FEMA's National Risk Index, about $121 million a year. Del Norte County, CA is second at $114 million.
How many counties face tsunami risk?
FEMA rates tsunami in 65 of 3,144 counties in the 50 states and DC. 4 are rated Very High and 4 Relatively High.
Is tsunami covered by home insurance?
Usually yes for damage to the home, but check deductibles. Some states and insurers use separate wind, hail or hurricane deductibles.
Other hazards
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025). Expected annual loss is FEMA's long-run estimate of yearly damage to buildings, people and farm output, in dollars.