Hawaii natural disasters & FEMA declarations
HI · 31st most declarations of 51 states/DC
Hawaii has had 71 federally declared disasters since 1955, the 31st most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Fire (28 declarations, about 39% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides" (Flood), on Apr 7, 2026. The largest recorded earthquake in or near Hawaii was magnitude 7.7.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Hawaii, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Fire | 28 | 39% |
| Flood | 13 | 18% |
| Severe Storm | 9 | 13% |
| Hurricane | 6 | 8% |
| Volcanic Eruption | 4 | 6% |
| Earthquake | 4 | 6% |
| Biological | 2 | 3% |
| Other | 2 | 3% |
| Mud/Landslide | 1 | 1% |
| Tsunami | 1 | 1% |
| Typhoon | 1 | 1% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Major Disaster (DR) | 39 |
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 27 |
| Emergency (EM) | 5 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Hawaii's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 3 |
| 1960s | 4 |
| 1970s | 4 |
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 7 |
| 2000s | 19 |
| 2010s | 11 |
| 2020s | 18 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 7, 2026 | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | DR-4909-HI |
| Sep 23, 2025 | Holomua Fire | Fire | FM-5613-HI |
| Aug 19, 2025 | Kunia Road Fire | Fire | FM-5609-HI |
| Jun 17, 2024 | Severe Storms, Flooding, And Landslides | Flood | DR-4793-HI |
| Aug 10, 2023 | Wildfires And High Winds | Fire | DR-4724-HI |
| Aug 9, 2023 | Upcountry Fire | Fire | FM-5476-HI |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Hawaii
The strongest magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes attributed to Hawaii in the USGS catalog (1900–present). Locations are matched from the USGS event description.
| Magnitude | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| M7.7 | Nov 29, 1975 | 17 km SSW of Leilani Estates, Hawaii |
| M6.9 | May 4, 2018 | 18 km SSW of Leilani Estates, Hawaii |
Source: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Data as of June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has Hawaii had?
Hawaii has had 71 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1955, the 31st most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Hawaii?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Hawaii is "Fire", with 28 declarations — about 39% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Hawaii?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Hawaii in this snapshot was "Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides" (Flood), declared Apr 7, 2026.
What is the biggest earthquake recorded in Hawaii?
The largest earthquake in or near Hawaii in the USGS magnitude-6.0+ catalog is a magnitude 7.7 event on Nov 29, 1975 (17 km SSW of Leilani Estates, Hawaii).
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18