riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Butler County Disaster Risk

Butler County, Alabama

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

45th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#48

of 67 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

36th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 36% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 31% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 67% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 53% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Moderate

Higher than 86% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Butler County

Risk Verdict

Butler County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 45th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is the dominant hazard for Butler County, scoring in the 86th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 67th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (53th), flood (36th), wildfire (31th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Butler County residents should know your evacuation route, stockpile supplies for at least 72 hours, and review your homeowners and flood insurance policies annually. Secondary risks such as tornado also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Butler County is notably safer than the average county in Alabama. Its composite risk score is 16.4 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Butler County, AL?
Butler County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 45th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Butler County?
Butler County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (86th percentile), tornado (67th percentile), earthquake (53th percentile), flooding (36th percentile), wildfire (31th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 86th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Butler County risk compare to the Alabama average?
Butler County's composite risk percentile is 45th, compared to the Alabama state average of 62th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Butler County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Alabama.
Is Butler County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Butler County's hurricane risk is at the 86th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Butler County is at the 36th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Butler County a safe place to live?
Butler County's composite risk score of 45th percentile is below the Alabama state average of 62th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is hurricane at the 86th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Pickens County

Alabama

-0.5

Relatively Low

45th percentile

Washington County

Alabama

+0.5

Relatively Low

46th percentile

Pike County

Alabama

-1.2

Relatively Low

44th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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