Washington Place · Photo: CaesarGJ · Public domainFEMA puts Urban Honolulu’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 87% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Urban Honolulu gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns, #15 of 93 in Hawaii. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%), then earthquakes (22%). Flood insurance has paid 370 claims here since 1978.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Urban Honolulu’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Urban Honolulu faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Earthquakes
Tsunamis
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Urban Honolulu’s grade
River and rain flooding is 67% of the building damage FEMA expects in Urban Honolulu, and Urban Honolulu’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts. Tsunamis add 8%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
D #15 of 93 in Hawaii; higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Urban Honolulu’s residents live in 132 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Hawaii town has higher expected damage than 96% of U.S. towns; within the state, Urban Honolulu has less expected damage per building than 85% of Hawaii towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Urban Honolulu has higher expected damage per building than 80% (#320 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $178M, is the 51th largest of those 400.
Does Urban Honolulu flood? Yes: 370 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Urban Honolulu, from FEMA’s records: 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 58% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Iniki24 claims · $385K
- The 2026-03-KonaStorm12 claims · $472K
Urban Honolulu isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Honolulu County.The storms Urban Honolulu remembers
None of the 18 disasters declared for Honolulu County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Urban Honolulu itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 200646 flood claims paidThe year of Earthquake, declared for Honolulu County
- 199239 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Iniki, declared for Honolulu County
- 202139 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides, declared for Honolulu County
Honolulu County has had 18 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods.
Also 4 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Honolulu County, 2005–2025.
Old photos of Urban Honolulu after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Urban Honolulu archive →Urban Honolulu and its neighbors
Urban Honolulu is 3rd of the 4 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halawa | C−more damage than 78% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hickam Housing | C−more damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Urban Honolulu | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 370 |
| East Honolulu | Dmore damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 337 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Urban Honolulu faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Strong shaking or a sudden drop in the sea means head for high ground now.
- Learn the tsunami route signs near the shore.
- Stay away until officials say it’s safe.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Urban Honolulu
Is Urban Honolulu at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Urban Honolulu has higher expected damage per building than 87% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #15 of 93 in Hawaii. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (67%) and earthquakes (22%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Urban Honolulu flood?
Flood insurance has paid 370 claims in Urban Honolulu since 1978, $12.3M in all, or 2.4 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 58% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Iniki (24).
Is Urban Honolulu in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Honolulu County, 54% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 4.1% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Urban Honolulu?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Urban Honolulu’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Urban Honolulu?
By flood claims, Hurricane Iniki: 24 paid, $385K.
Is Urban Honolulu at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (67%), and Urban Honolulu’s rate for it is higher than 89% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Urban Honolulu.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Urban Honolulu’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.