Enter any address in Butler County, Nebraska to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from intense thunderstorms is a significant flood hazard in Butler County, NE. Over the last 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data shows 17 flood events and 14 flash flood events recorded in the county. For example, on May 21, 2024, troughing over the western U.S. contributed to conditions that led to flash flooding. More recently, on July 2, 2024, river flooding continued along portions of the Missouri River, impacting areas in southeast Nebraska.
NFIP claims data indicates that properties designated as Zone A have experienced the majority of flood insurance claims, with an average payout of $34,365 and an average water depth of 0.4 feet. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in areas with unknown flood zone designations, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
11 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Butler County, Nebraska has recorded 31 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 14 flash floods and 17 river or area floods. The county has received 19 federal disaster declarations, 5 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1967–2025)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm And Straight-line Winds | Winter Storm | Mar 18, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 20, 2024 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | Mar 9, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Straight-line Winds | Severe Storm | Jun 12, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jun 1, 2014 |
| Severe Storms, Ice Jams, And Flooding | Flood | Mar 6, 2010 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm | Severe Storm | Dec 22, 2009 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 22, 2008 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 21, 2024 | 25.00K |
| Flood | Jul 2, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 7, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 13, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2018 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Aug 16, 2017 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 16, 2017 | 100.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 27, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 13, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Sep 11, 2014 | 5.00K |
Flash Flood — May 21, 2024
Troughing over the western CONUS brought southwesterly flow aloft over the central and northern Plains for the duration of this event. In the couple of days leading up to May 21st, the upper-level flow pattern amplified as a trough deepened over the northern Rockies. This trough then ejected out into the central Plains on the 21st. At the surface, a stationary front developed and stretched acro...
Flood — Jul 2, 2024
At the beginning of July, river flooding was still ongoing along portions of the Missouri River extending from east-central Nebraska/southwest Iowa to the southern Nebraska border. Most of the length of the river crested at the end of June, so the greatest impacts are addressed in June StormData. However, sections of I-29 and the I-29/I680 junction remained closed through the first week of July...
Flash Flood — Aug 7, 2021
A midlevel shortwave moved through the area producing storms with severe criteria hail and wind gusts. In Omaha, 2 to 3 inches of rain fell over about an hour which led to a flash flood warning being issued. Flash flooding washed through basement apartments, swept up cars, and heaved pavement in low-lying areas of the Omaha metro area. The City of Omaha Public Works office estimates the damage ...
Flood — Mar 13, 2019
A 971mb bomb cyclone moved out of the central Rockies on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 and helped to create widespread, moderate to major, and in many cases historic, flooding across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. From 4 to 15 inches of snow cover remained across the mid Missouri River valley, and the ground was frozen with existing frost depths of 15 to 23 inches. Warm temperatures allowed all...
Flood — May 1, 2018
Severe thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front moving slowly southeast across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. Supercell thunderstorms produced hail as large as 4 inches in diameter in Butler County, and thunderstorm winds as high 80 mph near Wymore,NE. A tornado briefly touched down near Odell in Gage County. Heavy rainfall in some of the storms caused water to go over roads in Butl...
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, Nebraska:
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, Nebraska 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.