Flood history · Hilo, HI 96720
Flood insurance claims in Hilo, HI 96720
214 claims since 1978 and $3.3 million paid. Here's what the public record shows, and how to check a specific address.
Claims by year
Every NFIP flood insurance claim reported in ZIP 96720 since 1978.
What the record says
About 36% of claims here were on properties rated outside high-risk zones (zones X, B or C). A lower-risk zone on the map is not a guarantee.
Losses are spread across many events; the largest, Unnamed flooding, accounts for 24% of claims.
18 claims were filed in the last 10 years.
The most commonly recorded cause is heavy rain or snowmelt collecting faster than it drains, which can happen far from any river or coast.
Hawaii County * takes part in FEMA's Community Rating System (class 7), which can lower flood insurance premiums by up to 15% in high-risk zones.
Biggest flood events
| Event | Year | Claims | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed flooding | 2000 | 52 | 24% |
| Hurricane Lane | 2018 | 11 | 5% |
| 2025 July West Coast Tsunami | 2025 | 1 | 0% |
| Hurricane Iselle | 2014 | 1 | 0% |
Flood zone at time of claim
NFIP communities
Federal disaster declarations in Hawaii County
Flood, hurricane and storm declarations since 2000.
11 flood, storm or hurricane declarations for Hawaii County since 2000.
Check a specific address in Hilo.
ZIP-level history is the backdrop. See the official FEMA flood zone, ground elevation and next steps for one property, free.
Sources: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims (v3) and Disaster Declarations Summaries, FEMA NFIP Community Status Book; place names from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Data as of 2026-10-09. Payments are net building + contents payments in dollars at the time paid, not adjusted for inflation. Claims are grouped by the ZIP code reported on the claim. This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA. Information only; not an official flood zone determination or insurance advice.