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FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

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 Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Butler County, Nebraska

Butler County maintains protective risk profile

At 24.46, Butler County's composite risk score reflects Very Low risk—safer than the national average across multiple hazards. The county's rating indicates manageable natural disaster exposure for residents.

Slightly below Nebraska's state average

Butler County's 24.46 score sits just under Nebraska's average of 25.80, making it one of the safer counties in the state. This position reflects relatively balanced and controlled hazard exposure.

Part of a low-risk regional cluster

Butler County's 24.46 score closely mirrors Cedar County (21.69) and Burt County (20.67), creating a protective corridor across this region. All three neighboring counties share below-state-average risk profiles.

Tornado and wildfire require attention

Tornado risk (50.57) and wildfire risk (66.22) are the primary hazards in Butler County, though both remain manageable with standard precautions. Flood risk (20.93) is comparatively low and poses minimal concern.

Standard coverage with storm focus

Butler County homeowners should maintain comprehensive policies with windstorm and tornado coverage to address the county's primary threats. A reinforced safe room or designated shelter space is a practical investment given tornado exposure.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Butler County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    WildfirePrepare
    66th percentile
  2. #2
    TornadoPrepare
    51th percentile
  3. #3
    FloodPrepare
    21th percentile

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Butler County

Risk Verdict

Natural disaster exposure in Butler County is lower than roughly three-quarters of U.S. counties, with a composite score at the 24th percentile. Residents of Butler County can use the 24th percentile ranking as a baseline, while recognizing that individual properties may still lie in specific hazard zones that differ from the county average.

Hazard Breakdown

Wildfire risk is Butler County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 66th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Tornado ranks second at the 51th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include flood (21th percentile), earthquake (11th percentile), hurricane (0th percentile).

Preparedness Context

At the 66th percentile nationally for wildfire, Butler County residents should verify whether their insurance policy includes replacement cost coverage for structures and whether the insurer still writes new policies in this fire-risk zone. Alongside wildfire, tornado at the 51th percentile nationally means a multi-season preparedness mindset — fire season and flood or storm season often require different household plans. Local USFS or Cal Fire (where applicable) fire risk maps and seasonal Red Flag Warning alerts from the National Weather Service are two free resources Butler County residents can use to stay ahead of rapidly changing wildfire conditions.

Regional Context

Butler County's composite risk score is within 1.3 points of the Nebraska county average — a close alignment that reflects a broadly representative hazard environment for this part of the state.

Is your household prepared for Butler County's hazards?

Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

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 Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, 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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