Enter any address in Butler County, Missouri to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is a recurring concern in Butler County. Between 1993 and 2023, NOAA data shows 58 flood events and 58 flash flood events, resulting in a total of 8 fatalities. Recent events include flash flooding on June 26, 2024, which caused vehicles to be stranded and water to enter a high school hallway in Poplar Bluff due to 3 to 5 inches of rainfall. Another flood event occurred on July 7, 2025, producing ponding of water in Poplar Bluff following heavy thunderstorms.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A, which are typically areas of higher flood risk, have the highest number of claims at 359, with an average payout of $20,381 and an average water depth of 3.3 feet. However, properties in Zone X, typically considered moderate flood risk, have shown a higher average payout of $23,146, with an average water depth of 3.4 feet, suggesting that flood damage can occur in areas outside of high-risk zones. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in other zones with a history of claims, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
52 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Butler County, Missouri has recorded 116 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 58 flash floods and 58 river or area floods. The county has received 23 federal disaster declarations, 3 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2025)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Mar 30, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Wildfires | Severe Storm | Mar 14, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 19, 2024 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 3, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds And Flooding | Flood | Apr 28, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Dec 22, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 19, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Jan 31, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Jul 7, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 27, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 26, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 26, 2024 | 100.00K |
| Flood | Mar 25, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 3, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 3, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Feb 17, 2022 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 6, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 30, 2021 | 0.00K |
Flood — Jul 7, 2025
A west to east line of thunderstorms moving southward through Southeast Missouri produced heavy rainfall during the afternoon of the 7th. Very high precipitable water values near 2.0 helped fuel the downpours, which produced ponding of water in Poplar Bluff.
Flood — May 27, 2024
The second major severe weather outbreak for the month occurred on the 26th for the Quad State region. On the synoptic scale, a shortwave trough centered in the middle of the country with a 60 kt mid-level jet moved across northern Arkansas. A weak surface low was moving into SE Missouri during the morning with a secondary low located further northwest. A warm frontal boundary was draped across...
Flash Flood — May 26, 2024
The second major severe weather outbreak for the month occurred on the 26th for the Quad State region. On the synoptic scale, a shortwave trough centered in the middle of the country with a 60 kt mid-level jet moved across northern Arkansas. A weak surface low was moving into SE Missouri during the morning with a secondary low located further northwest. A warm frontal boundary was draped across...
Flash Flood — Jun 26, 2024
Training heavy rainfall through the morning hours in Southeast Missouri resulted in 3 to 5 inches of rainfall in much of Butler County and portions of Wayne, Bollinger, and Stoddard Counties. Considerable flash flooding issues developed in Poplar Bluff, which had vehicles stranded in several areas and up to half a foot of water in a high school hallway. MLCAPE was around 500 J/kg, precipitable ...
Flood — Mar 25, 2023
A nearly stationary front draped itself from central Texas northeast through the Ohio River Valley and produced multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms, some with very heavy rainfall. Scattered showers and thunderstorms resulted in widespread flooding of low water crossings in the hilly terrain of Carter, Wayne, and Bollinger Counties. One to three inches of rain fell across the region wit...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Butler County, Missouri:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Butler County, Missouri that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.