riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Maui County Disaster Risk

Maui County, Hawaii

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Moderate

National Percentile

93th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#3

of 5 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

94th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Moderate

Higher than 94% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively High

Higher than 95% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 6% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively High

Higher than 97% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 70% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Maui County

Risk Verdict

Maui County has a relatively moderate overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 93th percentile nationally. While not in the highest tier, this county faces meaningful hazard exposure. Residents are encouraged to understand their specific risks and maintain emergency supplies.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is the dominant hazard for Maui County, scoring in the 97th percentile nationally. It is followed by wildfire risk at the 95th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (94th), hurricane (70th), tornado (6th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Maui County residents should secure heavy furniture and appliances, know how to shut off utilities, and keep emergency supplies accessible. Secondary risks such as wildfire also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Maui County is significantly riskier than the average county in Hawaii. Its composite risk score is 18.1 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Maui County, HI?
Maui County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, placing it in the 93th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Maui County?
Maui County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (97th percentile), wildfire (95th percentile), flooding (94th percentile), hurricane (70th percentile), tornado (6th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 97th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Maui County risk compare to the Hawaii average?
Maui County's composite risk percentile is 93th, compared to the Hawaii state average of 75th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Maui County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Hawaii.
Is Maui County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Maui County's earthquake risk is at the 97th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Maui County is at the 94th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Why is Maui County higher risk than average?
Maui County's composite risk score of 93th percentile is above the Hawaii state average of 75th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by earthquake exposure (97th percentile), along with wildfire and flooding and hurricane risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Hawaii County

Hawaii

+5.4

Relatively High

99th percentile

Honolulu County

Hawaii

+5.6

Relatively High

99th percentile

Kauai County

Hawaii

-8.7

Relatively Moderate

84th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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