riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Butler County Disaster Risk

Butler County, Missouri

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Moderate

National Percentile

83th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#14

of 115 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

79th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 79% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 39% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Moderate

Higher than 90% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively High

Higher than 95% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 44% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Butler County

Risk Verdict

Butler County has a relatively moderate overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 83th percentile nationally. While not in the highest tier, this county faces meaningful hazard exposure. Residents are encouraged to understand their specific risks and maintain emergency supplies.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is the dominant hazard for Butler County, scoring in the 95th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 90th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (79th), hurricane (44th), wildfire (39th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Butler County residents should secure heavy furniture and appliances, know how to shut off utilities, and keep emergency supplies accessible. 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 significantly riskier than the average county in Missouri. Its composite risk score is 32.6 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Butler County, MO?
Butler County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate, placing it in the 83th 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: earthquake (95th percentile), tornado (90th percentile), flooding (79th percentile), hurricane (44th percentile), wildfire (39th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 95th 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 Missouri average?
Butler County's composite risk percentile is 83th, compared to the Missouri state average of 51th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Butler County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Missouri.
Is Butler County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Butler County's earthquake risk is at the 95th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Butler County is at the 79th 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.
Why is Butler County higher risk than average?
Butler County's composite risk score of 83th percentile is above the Missouri state average of 51th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by earthquake exposure (95th percentile), along with tornado and flooding risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Franklin County

Missouri

+0.3

Relatively Moderate

83th percentile

Taney County

Missouri

+0.9

Relatively Moderate

84th percentile

Jasper County

Missouri

+2.5

Relatively Moderate

86th 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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