Butler County, Iowa
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Butler County, Iowa has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 73% of US counties. It ranks 72nd of 99 counties in Iowa. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, drought and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $15 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,014 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (22 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2024 (severe storms, tornadoes and flooding). About 1 in 71 homes here carry federal flood insurance (113 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $7.4 million on 316 claims here, including $4.6 million for floods in 2008.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Butler County
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Check local water restrictions.
- Choose drought-tolerant plants.
- Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
- Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 37.2 | $7M | ||
| Drought | 88.5 | $2M | ||
| Tornado | 48.3 | $2M | ||
| Cold wave | 45.7 | $1M | ||
| Strong wind | 53.9 | $1M | ||
| Hail | 55.4 | $527K | ||
| Winter weather | 58.3 | $139K | ||
| Heat wave | 12.8 | $45K | ||
| Lightning | 6.9 | $36K | ||
| Ice storm | 20.2 | $27K | ||
| Wildfire | 22.4 | $15K | ||
| Earthquake | 9.2 | $14K | ||
| Hurricane | 10.0 | $3K | ||
| Landslide | 21.9 | $230 |
Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very low and community resilience is very high in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Butler County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 23
Iowa also had 11 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1952
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 502 storm reports in Butler County since 1952, with 11 deaths and 58 injuries and about $122 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF5 tornado on May 25, 2008 near Aplington.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 25, 2008 | EF5 | Aplington | 50 / 9 |
| Sep 1, 1961 | F4 | – | 7 / 0 |
| Jul 2, 1999 | F2 | Aplington | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 9, 1970 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 4, 1975 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 25, 2008 | Tornado | Aplington | $75M |
| Jun 12, 2010 | Flood | Aredale | $20M |
| Sep 1, 1961 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 22, 1984 | Tornado | – | $3M |
| Jun 25, 2013 | Flood | Parkersburg | $1M |
| Jun 6, 2008 | Flood | New Hartford | $800K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Sep 16, 2025. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.
Flood insurance in Butler County
Check your address flood zone ›National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.
Homes in Butler County
Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 6,570 housing units.
Compare in Iowa
All 99 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Polk County | Inland flooding | |
| Linn County | Inland flooding | |
| Scott County | Inland flooding | |
| Johnson County | Tornado | |
| Black Hawk County | Inland flooding | |
| Woodbury County | Inland flooding | |
| Dallas County | Inland flooding | |
| Dubuque County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Black Hawk County | 18 | |
| Cerro Gordo County | 13 | |
| Bremer County | 15 | |
| Hardin County | 16 | |
| Floyd County | 18 | |
| Grundy County | 13 | |
| Chickasaw County | 17 | |
| Franklin County | 20 |
Common questions about Butler County
What is the biggest natural hazard in Butler County?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Butler County, about $7.1 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Drought is second at $2.4 million.
How many federal disasters has Butler County had?
Butler County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 22 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding in May 2024.
Is Butler County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 72nd highest of 99 in Iowa. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.
Do I need flood insurance in Butler County?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 71 homes in Butler County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Butler County had?
NOAA records list 31 tornadoes in Butler County since 1950. The strongest was an EF5 tornado on May 25, 2008 near Aplington. The weather service has also logged 172 hail reports and 95 floods here.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.