Kalawao County, Hawaii Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · HI
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 0th
Kalawao County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 0.1, 0th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and wildfire exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $260K.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Overall natural disaster risk in Kalawao County is very low, with a National Risk Index score of 0.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 0th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Most of Kalawao County's expected losses come from earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Very Low risk — $41K in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; wildfire (uncontrolled fires that spread across wildland and into communities) at Very Low risk — $6K in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and coastal flood (seawater inundation from storm surge, high tides, and rising sea levels) at Very Low risk — $92 in expected annual loss and about 0.33 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $260K in expected annual loss for a population of 82.
Beyond physical exposure, Kalawao County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very high community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). Higher vulnerability is partly offset by strong community resilience and recovery capacity.
The county's disaster history tells the same story: Kalawao County has received 2 federal disaster declarations since 1992, including 1 for biological events and 1 for hurricane events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic (biological), declared in April 2020.
Among 5 Hawaii counties, Kalawao County ranks #5 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Earthquake | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $41K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $6K |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.33 / yr | $92 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.66 / yr | $56K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $2K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $1 |
| Tornado | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $104 |
| Hail | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $16 |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $155K |
| Lightning | Very Low | 42.45 / yr | $1K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Drought | Very Low | 18.01 / yr | $0 |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Kalawao County has received 2 federal disaster declarations since 1992, most recently Covid-19 Pandemic in April 2020. Most frequent causes: Biological (1), Hurricane (1).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| September 1992 | Hurricane | Hurricane Iniki |
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Kalawao County?
Kalawao County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 0.1 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 0th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Kalawao County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Very Low, $41K EAL), Wildfire (Very Low, $6K EAL), Coastal Flood (Very Low, $92 EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Kalawao County compare to other Hawaii counties?
Kalawao County ranks #5 of 5 Hawaii counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Kalawao County had?
FEMA records 2 federal disaster declarations for Kalawao County since 1992, most often 1 for biological events and 1 for hurricane events. The most recent was Covid-19 Pandemic, declared in April 2020.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Kalawao County's $260K EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.