Butler County, Kansas
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Butler County, Kansas has a relatively low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 74% of US counties. It ranks 7th of 105 counties in Kansas. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, tornadoes and wildfires. FEMA estimates about $42 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $628 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (24 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2026 (severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (151 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $13 million on 507 claims here, including $4.3 million for floods in 1998.
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.
- 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.
- Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
- Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 67.7 | $15M | ||
| Tornado | 90.2 | $9M | ||
| Wildfire | 95.6 | $5M | ||
| Cold wave | 74.5 | $3M | ||
| Heat wave | 84.0 | $2M | ||
| Hail | 89.1 | $2M | ||
| Strong wind | 84.9 | $2M | ||
| Ice storm | 83.3 | $676K | ||
| Winter weather | 93.0 | $661K | ||
| Lightning | 65.0 | $527K | ||
| Drought | 55.3 | $270K | ||
| Earthquake | 37.5 | $167K | ||
| Hurricane | 29.8 | $18K | ||
| Landslide | 39.2 | $793 |
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 relatively 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 27
Kansas also had 10 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1950
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 1,858 storm reports in Butler County since 1950, with 31 deaths and 225 injuries and about $357 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F5 tornado on April 26, 1991.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 1991 | F5 | – | 150 / 13 |
| Jun 10, 1958 | F4 | – | 5 / 15 |
| Apr 29, 2022 | EF3 | Andover | 4 / 0 |
| Jul 5, 1987 | F2 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 26, 1991 | F2 | – | 4 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 1991 | Tornado | – | $250M |
| Apr 29, 2022 | Tornado | Andover | $37M |
| May 8, 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Benton | $30M |
| Mar 28, 1993 | Hail | Augusta | $5M |
| May 8, 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | El Dorado | $5M |
| Jul 1, 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cassoday | $5M |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 4, 2026. 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; 27,485 housing units.
Compare in Kansas
All 105 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| Johnson County | Inland flooding | |
| Sedgwick County | Inland flooding | |
| Shawnee County | Inland flooding | |
| Wyandotte County | Inland flooding | |
| Douglas County | Inland flooding | |
| Leavenworth County | Inland flooding | |
| Riley County | Inland flooding | |
| Butler County | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Sedgwick County | 15 | |
| Cowley County | 25 | |
| Harvey County | 22 | |
| Sumner County | 25 | |
| Marion County | 20 | |
| Greenwood County | 23 | |
| Chase County | 20 | |
| Elk County | 18 |
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 $15.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Tornado is second at $9.3 million.
How many federal disasters has Butler County had?
Butler County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 24 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding in September 2026.
Is Butler County a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Relatively Low, 7th highest of 105 in Kansas. 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 200 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 90 tornadoes in Butler County since 1950. The strongest was an F5 tornado on April 26, 1991. The weather service has also logged 895 hail reports and 136 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.