FEMA Records
30
High volume
Hawaii · FEMA + NOAA + National Risk Index
Maui County, HI
30 FEMA disaster declarations (1968-2026), with a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate. Most common hazard: Fire.
- 30
- FEMA declarations
- 17
- Major disasters
- 93
- NRI risk · Relatively Moderate
- Fire
- Top hazard
The verdict
Two federal records point in the busier direction for Maui County. Its 30 FEMA declarations are 46% above the Hawaii county mean and exceed the count for 86% of the 3,266 counties in this registry. Separately, FEMA's National Risk Index places it in the riskiest 7%, based on modeled expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience.
- Riskiest 7%
- of U.S. counties for FEMA National Risk Index score
- Relatively Moderate
- FEMA National Risk Index rating
- 30
- FEMA declarations vs 21 national county avg
- 816
- NFIP flood insurance claims filed
FEMA's National Risk Index and its declaration registry are separate measures. This county's registry includes Fire Management Assistance (FM) records, which are not presidential disaster declarations, alongside Major Disaster (DR) and Emergency (EM) records.
FEMA OpenFEMA declaration desk
County FIPS 15009 · Maui County 30 declarations · rank 395/3,266
DECL-HEAVY · MAJOR-MID · RANK-MID · PHOTO-FINISH · NRI-MID · ACT-HIGH · TYPE-LEAD · VS-ST-ABOVE
- DECL-HEAVY 30
- MAJOR-MID 57%
- RANK-MID #395
- PHOTO-FINISH Jefferson
- NRI-MID 93
- ACT-HIGH High
- TYPE-LEAD Fire
- VS-ST-ABOVE +46%
Nearest declaration peer: Jefferson, OK (0 declaration gap)
FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 filing stamps for this county register. Read with this county → · Hawaii state profile
Maui County among high-volume declaration counties
FEMA declaration records among Maui County and nearest peers by total count
- Los Angeles · largest
Los Angeles · largest
88 declarations
- Clallam · near 30
Clallam · near
30 declarations
- Jefferson · near 30
Jefferson · near
30 declarations
- Latimer · near 30
Latimer · near
30 declarations
- Maui · this county 30
Maui · this county
30 declarations
- Ujelang · smallest 1
Ujelang · smallest
1 declarations
What this shows Maui County carries 30 FEMA declaration records, ranked 395 of 3,266 counties in this registry.
Where Maui County ranks in the national declaration registry
Maui County vs. high-volume counties in this registry
FEMA disaster declarations, all-time · Maui County
30 Top 14% higher than 86% of 3,266 counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 · 2026-08-25
Maui County's FEMA Risk Index score
Which hazard drives modeled loss here?
FEMA's modeled annual dollar loss for Maui County is led by Riverine Flooding (about $59.4M Expected Annual Loss, Historical Loss Ratio Relatively Moderate), while Volcanic Activity carries the highest National Risk Index rating (Relatively High). EAL and risk score use different inputs; they need not agree.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025 release) - Expected Annual Loss vs composite risk rating by hazard.
What does Maui County's hazard record show?
Reading the federal records together
FEMA's NFIP table contains a substantial paid-claim history for this county: 816 claims and $25.9M in payments. PlainHazard labels 500 or more claims a heavy registry record; that is a reporting bucket, not an official FEMA risk grade. The average paid claim was $31.7K. NFIP totals exclude uninsured flood losses and do not measure how many properties currently carry a policy.
The declaration register points in the busier direction. Maui County's 30 federal records stand 46% above the Hawaii county mean of 20.6. That comparison describes how often federal action was recorded, including any Major Disaster, Emergency, and Fire Management entries shown on this page; it does not convert the count into future probability.
FEMA National Risk Index
This county sits among the highest-risk counties nationally on FEMA's National Risk Index, a composite score of 93.1/100 (Relatively Moderate). Expected Annual Loss is rated Relatively Moderate (roughly $132.2M in annualized losses). Social vulnerability reads Relatively Moderate and community resilience Very High, both critical modifiers of realized harm here. Of the 18 hazards FEMA models, Volcanic Activity stands out as the sharpest exposure here, rated Relatively High. FEMA's modeled frequency puts that hazard at roughly once every 1,000 years here, based on 1 historical events on record.
74 /100
Historical Activity Index
High historical activity
Maui County, HI · PlainHazard-derived composite from federal records
This 0–100 index is an explicit PlainHazard composite from FEMA declaration history only on the county surface (this DB has no county-level NOAA damage row) . It is not FEMA's National Risk Index, not a forecast, and not a safety, insurance, or preparedness rating. Open the calculator · Methodology
FEMA Declarations (1953–present) High
22/30
30 OpenFEMA declarations, full ingest window (1.4x national county average)
County Disaster Density High
18/25
30 declarations (1.5x state county average of 21)
Major Disaster Share High
14/25
17 of 30 declarations are major disasters (57%)
Hazard Diversity Very High
20/20
8 different disaster types declared in Maui County
FEMA NRI 8-hazard radar - Maui County
How to read this radar
Each axis: NRI risk rating (Very Low-Very High) on a 0-100 scale. Rounder = broad exposure; spiky = one or two hazards dominate.
Major Disaster share
57%
Major-heavy
NRI risk score
93
Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Per-county per-hazard ratings, December 2025 release
How often does each hazard strike Maui County?
FEMA's National Risk Index models a historical event count and an annualized frequency for each hazard type. Most hazards are expressed as modeled occurrences per year; FEMA expresses drought and heat-wave frequency as event-days per year. These modeled frequencies are not forecasts.
| Hazard | NRI Risk Rating | Recurrence |
|---|---|---|
| Volcanic Activity | Relatively High | roughly once every 1,000 years |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 27 years |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | roughly once every 234 years |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively High | an average of 4.3 times per year |
| Lightning | Relatively High | an average of 56 times per year |
| Tsunami | Relatively High | roughly once every 2 years |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | roughly once every 19 years |
| Landslide | Very Low | an average of 1.7 times per year |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Low | roughly once every 1 years |
| Drought | Very Low | 45 modeled event-days per year |
| Tornado | Very Low | roughly once every 40 years |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | roughly once every 631 years |
| Hail | Very Low | roughly once every 191 years |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | roughly once every 19 years |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | roughly once every 422 years |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index Modeled annualized frequency; drought and heat wave use event-days/year, December 2025 release
Disaster Types
Fire 10
Flood 5
Severe Storm 5
Hurricane 5
Biological 2
Mud/Landslide 1
Tsunami 1
Earthquake 1
What Fire declarations mean here
Fire is the most frequent declaration type on Maui County's record, 33% of its declarations. Wildfire is the one hazard here with its own dedicated federal instrument: the Fire Management Assistance Grant, which appears in this data as an FM record. An FMAG can be authorised while a fire is still burning, on a timescale of hours, because its purpose is to reimburse the cost of fighting a fire that threatens to become a major disaster.
That distinction matters when comparing counties. An FM declaration is not a presidential major disaster declaration and does not carry the same assistance programmes, so a fire-heavy county's total is not directly comparable with a hurricane-heavy county's total unless the declaration types are separated, which is why they are listed separately on this page.
Declaration counts describe past federal action. They are a record of what was declared, not a forecast of future hazard probability.
Declaration Types
What DR / EM / FM mean
FEMA categorizes declarations as Major Disasters (DR), Emergencies (EM), or Fire Management Assistance (FM).
Major Disaster - 17 56.7%
of all 30 declarations
Fire Management - 9 30.0%
of all 30 declarations
Emergency - 4 13.3%
of all 30 declarations
FEMA Declarations Timeline
| Year | Declarations | |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | |
| 2025 | 1 | |
| 2023 | 4 | |
| 2022 | 1 | |
| 2021 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 4 | |
| 2018 | 3 | |
| 2017 | 1 | |
| 2014 | 1 | |
| 2012 | 1 | |
| 2011 | 1 | |
| 2010 | 1 | |
| 2009 | 1 | |
| 2008 | 1 | |
| 2007 | 2 | |
Show 6 earlier declaration years
| 2006 | 1 | |
| 2001 | 1 | |
| 1992 | 1 | |
| 1982 | 1 | |
| 1980 | 1 | |
| 1968 | 1 | |
Disaster Declarations
How the 30 FEMA declarations break into federal action codes (DR / EM / FM). Same DISTINCT grain as the table below.
Download these 30 declarations as CSV . FEMA source data is public domain; our derived presentation is CC0.
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4909 | SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES | DR | Flood | 2026-04-07 |
| 5613 | HOLOMUA FIRE | FM | Fire | 2025-09-23 |
| 4724 | WILDFIRES AND HIGH WINDS | DR | Fire | 2023-08-10 |
| 5475 | LAHAINA FIRE | FM | Fire | 2023-08-09 |
| 5477 | PULEHU FIRE | FM | Fire | 2023-08-09 |
| 5476 | UPCOUNTRY FIRE | FM | Fire | 2023-08-09 |
| 4639 | SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND LANDSLIDES | DR | Severe Storm | 2022-02-15 |
| 4604 | SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND LANDSLIDES | DR | Flood | 2021-05-13 |
| 3529 | HURRICANE DOUGLAS | EM | Hurricane | 2020-07-25 |
| 4510 | COVID-19 PANDEMIC | DR | Biological | 2020-04-01 |
| 3431 | COVID-19 | EM | Biological | 2020-03-13 |
| 5294 | KAHANA RIDGE FIRE | FM | Fire | 2019-10-23 |
| 4395 | HURRICANE LANE | DR | Hurricane | 2018-09-27 |
| 3404 | TROPICAL STORM OLIVIA | EM | Hurricane | 2018-09-12 |
| 3399 | HURRICANE LANE | EM | Hurricane | 2018-08-22 |
| 4282 | SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES, AND MUDSLIDES | DR | Mud/Landslide | 2016-10-06 |
| 4194 | TROPICAL STORM ISELLE | DR | Severe Storm | 2014-09-12 |
| 4062 | SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, AND LANDSLIDES | DR | Severe Storm | 2012-04-18 |
| 1967 | TSUNAMI WAVES | DR | Tsunami | 2011-04-08 |
| 2844 | MAALAEA FIRE | FM | Fire | 2010-06-09 |
Show 10 earlier declaration records
| DR# | Title | Type | Incident | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2834 | KAUNAKAKAI FIRE | FM | Fire | 2009-08-31 |
| 1743 | SEVERE STORMS, HIGH SURF, FLOODING, AND MUDSLIDES | DR | Severe Storm | 2008-02-06 |
| 2701 | OLOWALU FIRE | FM | Fire | 2007-06-28 |
| 1664 | EARTHQUAKE | DR | Earthquake | 2006-10-17 |
| 2673 | MA'ALAEA FIRE | FM | Fire | 2006-09-02 |
| 1348 | SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING | DR | Severe Storm | 2000-11-09 |
| 961 | HURRICANE INIKI | DR | Hurricane | 1992-09-12 |
| 656 | HEAVY RAINS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1982-04-22 |
| 613 | SEVERE STORMS, HIGH SURF & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1980-02-06 |
| 251 | HEAVY RAINS & FLOODING | DR | Flood | 1968-09-13 |
Storm Events in Hawaii
Statewide NOAA context only. PlainHazard does not currently attribute these state totals to Maui County.
| Storm Type | Events | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Surf | 3,536 | 20 | 28 | $672.0K |
| Heavy Rain | 1,044 | 4 | 2 | $0 |
| Drought | 899 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| Flash Flood | 223 | 6 | 4 | $125.1M |
| Strong Wind | 127 | 0 | 11 | $555.8K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database State-level aggregated data, 2015-2025
NFIP Flood Insurance Claims
Total Claims
816
Total Paid
$25.9M
Avg Per Claim
$31.7K
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA Claims Data
FEMA National Risk Index
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Score: 93.1/100
Expected Annual Loss
Relatively Moderate
$132.2M/year
Social Vulnerability
Relatively Moderate
Community Resilience
Very High
Hazard Risk Breakdown
Volcanic Activity Relatively High
Earthquake Relatively Moderate
Wildfire Relatively Moderate
Riverine Flooding Relatively High
Lightning Relatively High
Tsunami Relatively High
Hurricane Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flooding Relatively Low
Drought Very Low
Tornado Very Low
Ice Storm Very Low
Hail Very Low
Winter Weather Very Low
Strong Wind Very Low
Cold Wave No Rating
Heat Wave No Rating
Source: FEMA National Risk Index (NRI) Ratings reflect relative scores among all US counties. Data: hazards.fema.gov/nri
The model's sharpest exposure here: Volcanic Activity
Volcanic Activity is the rarest hazard in the model and the most locally determined. Its modeled exposure follows proximity to specific known systems rather than any regional pattern.
Worth noting for Maui County: the model and the federal record do NOT point at the same hazard. Volcanic Activity carries the highest modeled rating (Relatively High), while the county's declaration history is led by Fire. That is not a contradiction, the two measure genuinely different things. Declarations record federal ACTION, which requires damage costly enough to exceed state and local capacity; the Risk Index models EXPECTED annual loss across all 18 hazards whether or not any declaration ever followed. A hazard can be the county's largest modeled exposure and never once have driven a declaration.
National Risk Index ratings are modeled estimates of expected annual loss, not predictions of what will happen in any given year.
Data-matched county comparisons
Maui County's closest FEMA peer: Bristol County, MA
Comparisons use published FEMA declaration fields plus the National Risk Index composite for Maui County. Record similarity, not a safety rating.
Closest declaration profiles
Maui County shows 30 FEMA declarations, led by Fire.
Similar Major-disaster share
Maui County: 17 of 30 of its declarations are Major.
Similar modeled NRI score
Maui County: NRI composite 93.1 (Relatively Moderate).
How these peers are chosen
Cohort: Published U.S. county equivalents outside the source state or territory. Each metric keeps six ETL candidates; three unique destinations are shown after de-duplicating across axes. Declaration-volume ranking combines count and Major-disaster share and prefers a different leading incident type; Major-share ranks the Major fraction adjusted for volume; NRI ranks the modeled composite score only.
Retained FEMA snapshot feed for Maui County - capture-dated entries only.
Compare beyond this state
Nationwide peers by NRI score & FEMA declaration volume
Two PlainHazard-derived comparison paths for Maui County: nearest out-of-state National Risk Index composite and nearest FEMA declaration count (floor ≥5 records). Record similarity only, not a forecast of the next hazard.
Similar NRI composite
Nearest out-of-state counties by FEMA NRI score. This county: 93.1 (Relatively Moderate).
Similar declaration volume
Nearest out-of-state counties by FEMA declaration count. This county: 30. NRI peers are excluded so the two link sets stay distinct.
Further reading for this county
Understanding disaster data
Maui County's NFIP claims file (816 claims) and FEMA declaration history measure different federal records - this guide separates them from modeled NRI risk.
More PlainHazard guides
- Most disaster-prone counties - U.S. counties ranked by FEMA declaration totals.
- Understanding disaster data - declarations vs storm events vs NRI scores.
- Preparing for natural disasters - household checklist (not county-specific advice).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common disaster type in Maui County?
The most common disaster type in Maui County is Fire, with 10 declarations. Other disaster types include Flood (5), Severe Storm (5), Hurricane (5).
How does Maui County's FEMA declaration record compare with the Hawaii average?
FEMA lists 30 declaration records for Maui County. That is 46% above the Hawaii county mean of 20.6. Its count is also 45% above the national county mean of 20.7. A larger declaration history records more federal actions; it is not a forecast of the county's next hazard.
How many major FEMA disaster declarations has Maui County received?
Maui County has received 17 major disaster declarations, representing 57% of all 30 disaster declarations.
How many flood insurance claims has Maui County filed?
Maui County has 816 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims totaling $25.9M in payments, with an average of $31.7K per claim.
Does FEMA's top risk-rated hazard match the highest Expected Annual Loss in Maui County?
No. In Maui County, Volcanic Activity has the highest National Risk Index rating (Relatively High), while Riverine Flooding leads Expected Annual Loss at about $59.4M. FEMA's risk score and dollar-loss model use different inputs, so the leaders often differ.
What was the worst year for disasters in Maui County?
The most active year for disaster declarations in Maui County was 2020, with 4 declarations. The county has FEMA disaster data spanning 1968 to 2026.
What is the FEMA National Risk Index score for Maui County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, Maui County, Hawaii has an overall risk score of 93.1 out of 100 (Relatively Moderate). Social vulnerability here rates Relatively Moderate, while community resilience comes in at Very High. The Expected Annual Loss (EAL) score is Relatively Moderate, representing $132.2M in annualized losses.
Which natural hazard poses the greatest risk to Maui County?
Based on FEMA NRI data, the highest-risk natural hazard in Maui County as of the latest release is Volcanic Activity (risk rating: Relatively High). Other significant hazards include Earthquake (Relatively Moderate) and Wildfire (Relatively Moderate). FEMA's modeled event frequency puts volcanic activity here at roughly once every 1,000 years, drawn from 1 historical events on record. These scores are based on FEMA's analysis of historical event frequency, exposed assets, and community vulnerability.
Data Sources & Methodology
Disaster declaration data comes from the FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2 API, which includes all federally declared disasters, emergencies, and fire management assistance grants.
Storm event data is sourced from the NOAA Storm Events Database (2015-2025), which tracks significant weather events including thunderstorms, tornadoes, floods, and winter storms.
Flood insurance data comes from the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) OpenFEMA claims dataset.
This data is provided for informational purposes only. FEMA disaster declarations represent federal response actions and may not capture all local emergencies or weather events.
FEMA OpenFEMA declarations + NRI for Maui County · vintage 2026-08-25 · Methodology · Hawaii profile · Verify with FEMA OpenFEMA · Verify with NOAA Storm Events