riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Butler County Disaster Risk

Butler County, Nebraska

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

24th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#41

of 93 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

21th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 21% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 66% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 51% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Very Low

Higher than 11% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 0% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Butler County

Risk Verdict

Butler County has a very low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 24th percentile nationally. This county is among the safer counties in the United States from a natural disaster perspective, though no area is entirely risk-free.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is the dominant hazard for Butler County, scoring in the 66th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 51th percentile. Additional hazards include flood (21th), earthquake (11th), hurricane (0th).

Preparedness Context

With wildfire risk as the top concern, Butler County residents should create defensible space around your property, sign up for local emergency alerts, and prepare a go-bag with essential documents and medications. 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 has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in Nebraska. Its composite risk score is within 1.3 points of the state average, meaning its overall hazard exposure is broadly representative of Nebraska as a whole.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Butler County, NE?
Butler County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 24th 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: wildfire (66th percentile), tornado (51th percentile), flooding (21th percentile), earthquake (11th percentile), hurricane (0th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is wildfire at the 66th 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 Nebraska average?
Butler County's composite risk percentile is 24th, compared to the Nebraska state average of 26th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Very Low. This means Butler County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Nebraska.
Is Butler County at risk for wildfire?
Yes, Butler County's wildfire risk is at the 66th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Butler County is at the 21th 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 24th percentile is below the Nebraska state average of 26th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is wildfire at the 66th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Howard County

Nebraska

-0.3

Very Low

24th percentile

Jefferson County

Nebraska

-0.3

Very Low

24th percentile

Seward County

Nebraska

+0.4

Very Low

25th 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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