Enter any address in Butler County, Pennsylvania to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Butler County. Recent events include flash flooding on May 21st and July 16th, associated with atmospheric conditions conducive to heavy rainfall and severe weather.
Over the last 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data indicates 75 flash flood events and 40 flood events in Butler County. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $20,196 and an average water depth of 6.9 feet. Properties in Zone X_SHADED have also seen significant payouts, averaging $9,987 with an average water depth of 10.3 feet, despite fewer claims.
Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X_SHADED, as well as those in Zone X_UNSHADED with an average payout of $17,347, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
58 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Butler County, Pennsylvania has recorded 115 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 75 flash floods and 40 river or area floods. The county has received 11 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 (1972–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | Oct 26, 2012 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms | Snowstorm | Feb 5, 2010 |
| Hurricane Katrina | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Tropical Depression Ivan | Hurricane | Sep 17, 2004 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances | Severe Storm | Sep 8, 2004 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | Jan 19, 1996 |
| Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm | Snowstorm | Mar 13, 1993 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Flood | Aug 19, 1980 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 21, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 16, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 16, 2025 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 11, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 11, 2024 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 6, 2024 | 1.00K |
| Flood | Apr 3, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 3, 2024 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 3, 2024 | 1.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 2, 2024 | 1.00K |
Flash Flood — May 21, 2025
An occluding surface low slowly drifted across Ohio on May 21st. Bands of showers with embedded thunderstorms moved across southwest Pennsylvania. During the mid to late afternoon, one convective band, associated with ample 0-3km CAPE and surface vorticity, was able to generate four tornadoes across southwest PA. Three were relatively brief and weak, but one longer-track EF1 was noted in Washi...
Flash Flood — Jul 16, 2025
A crossing cold front and weak shortwave passage spawned of scattered clusters of thunderstorms in an environment with 1500-2000 J/kg MLCAPE, >1000 J/Kg DCAPE, and weak deep layer shear. Some storms were severe with damaging wind.
Flash Flood — Apr 11, 2024
A strong mid-level trough and an associated frontal zone crossed through the|Mid-South and took aim on the OH Valley. Strong forcing associated the energy aloft coupled with a gradually destabilizing boundary layer out ahead it set the stage for areas of locally heavy showers and thunderstorms for several hours and prompted dangerous flash flooding. A flash flood emergency was issued for portio...
Flash Flood — Aug 6, 2024
A shortwave trough over the Great Lakes interacting with a quasi-stationary boundary over eastern Ohio and western PA spawned severe weather from mid afternoon through late evening. MLCAPE near 2000 J/kg along with a relatively strong, elongated shear profiles led to an environment for strong to severe winds and possible tornadoes.
Flood — Apr 3, 2024
Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms prompted a widespread flash flood problems across the Ohio River Valley on April 2nd to April 3rd. The synoptic pattern across the CONUS was a slow moving and deep elongated trough over the Great Plains phasing with a ejecting trough over the Midwest that created an area of converging moisture over eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Overall, over ...
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, Pennsylvania:
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, Pennsylvania 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.