Natural Disaster Risk in Kauai County

Natural Hazard Profile: Kauai County, Hawaii

Kauai County is located in the Hawaiian archipelago in the central Pacific in Hawaii, home to roughly 73,136 residents. The county experiences warm temperatures moderated by trade winds and high volcanic terrain, with elevated rainfall from November through March shaping the natural hazards faced by its communities. FEMA assesses risk at this county level, providing the baseline for every city and ZIP code within its boundaries.

FEMA rates Kauai County's composite natural disaster risk at 4.8 out of 10 — moderate risk. The threat of tsunami inundation tops the local coastal risk profile, requiring residents in low-lying areas to maintain awareness of evacuation routes and warning systems. Residents should also account for landslide and wildfire risk in their preparedness planning.

Kauai County's risk score, near the 5.0/10 state average and near the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. Of the 18 hazard categories tracked by FEMA for Kauai County, the highest-scoring are tsunami, landslide, and wildfire. These scores reflect county-level data and represent the baseline risk that all communities in the county share.

Kauai County's moderate risk profile means that while catastrophic events are less frequent, they do occur. Standard homeowners insurance typically covers many common hazards here, but confirming that tsunami exposure is adequately protected is a worthwhile step for property owners.