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Butler County, Nebraska

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
41st of 93highest risk in Nebraska
$10Mexpected losses a year
17federal declarations
1 in 250homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Butler County, Nebraska has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 76% of US counties. It ranks 41st of 93 counties in Nebraska. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, hail and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $10 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $1,243 per resident. Since 1967 it has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (16 major disasters). The most recent was in May 2025 (severe winter storm and straight-line winds). Only 22 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $289,000 on 11 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Butler County

$3.2 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • 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.

Hail

Moderate
$2.4 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 7 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
$1.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 2 years.
  • 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.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingVery Low20.9
$3M
HailModerate91.3
$2M
TornadoLow50.6
$2M
Strong windModerate70.7
$1M
DroughtModerate76.0
$910K
Cold waveLow24.8
$398K
LightningLow36.6
$177K
Ice stormLow59.6
$165K
WildfireLow66.2
$161K
Heat waveVery Low22.4
$95K
Winter weatherLow45.8
$70K
EarthquakeVery Low11.5
$15K
LandslideVery Low41.9
$931

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

Severe Storm9
Flood5
Severe Ice Storm1
Hurricane1
Winter Storm1

Most recent

May 21, 2025Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Aug 20, 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Mar 21, 2019Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Aug 1, 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disaster
Jul 28, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 21, 2010Severe Storms, Ice Jams, and FloodingMajor disaster
Feb 25, 2010Severe Winter Storms and SnowstormMajor disaster
Jun 20, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 7, 2007Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacueesEmergency
Show all 17
May 25, 2004Severe Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disaster
Jul 21, 2003Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Nov 1, 1997Severe Snow Storms, Rain, and Strong WindsMajor disaster
Jul 19, 1993Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 2, 1993Ice Jams & FloodingMajor disaster
Apr 8, 1976Ice Storms & High WindsMajor disaster
Jul 18, 1967Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Nebraska also had 14 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1952

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 369 storm reports in Butler County since 1952, with 0 deaths and 13 injuries and about $44.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F4 tornado on March 13, 1990.

37tornadoes
179hail reports, largest 4 inches
119damaging thunderstorm winds
28floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 13, 1990F4–0 / 0
Aug 13, 1952F3–1 / 0
Jun 7, 1953F2–2 / 0
Jun 10, 1970F2–0 / 0
Jun 15, 1970F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 13, 1990Tornado–$25M
Jun 20, 1996HailOctavia$7M
Sep 24, 2007HailDavid City$4M
Apr 7, 1978Tornado–$3M
May 29, 1980Tornado–$3M
Apr 19, 1985Tornado–$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jun 9, 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 ›
0.4%of homes have federal flood insurance (22 policies)
5.7%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$288,577paid on 11 flood claims since 1978
2019costliest year, with $83,688 paid

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

$184,200median home value (Nebraska $238,600, US $332,700)
1968median year homes were built (Nebraska 1975, US 1980)
67%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
7.9%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

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; 4,039 housing units.

Compare in Nebraska

All 93 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Douglas CountyHighInland flooding
Lancaster CountyModerateTornado
Sarpy CountyModerateTornado
Hall CountyLowInland flooding
Buffalo CountyLowHail
Dodge CountyLowInland flooding
Scotts Bluff CountyLowHail
Madison CountyLowInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Lancaster CountyModerate14
Dodge CountyLow19
Platte CountyLow21
Saunders CountyVery Low28
Seward CountyVery Low17
York CountyLow18
Colfax CountyVery Low18
Polk CountyVery Low18

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 $3.2 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Hail is second at $2.4 million.

How many federal disasters has Butler County had?

Butler County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1967, including 16 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds in May 2025.

Is Butler County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 41st highest of 93 in Nebraska. 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 250 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 37 tornadoes in Butler County since 1950. The strongest was an F4 tornado on March 13, 1990. The weather service has also logged 179 hail reports and 28 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.