Butler County, MO Environment & Hazard Risk

• EarthquakeRelatively Moderate$13.39M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 89 years
• Heat waveRelatively Moderate$4.25M/yr expected annual loss, about 12 events a year
• Ice stormRelatively High$987K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.3 events a year
• TornadoRelatively Moderate$6.6M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• Winter weatherRelatively Moderate$227K/yr expected annual loss, about 7.0 events a year
• Strong windRelatively Moderate$1.34M/yr expected annual loss, about 2.4 events a year
• LandslideRelatively Low$9,578/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• LightningRelatively Moderate$368K/yr expected annual loss, about 58 events a year
• Cold waveRelatively Low$1.15M/yr expected annual loss, about 1.1 events a year
• DroughtRelatively Low$176K/yr expected annual loss, about 6.5 events a year
• HurricaneVery Low$38.45K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 52 years
• WildfireVery Low$22.99K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,853 years
• HailVery Low$124K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.1 events a year

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

261 of 19,255 (1.4%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

3,645

Insured in high-risk zones

245 (7%)

Flood claims since 1978

517

Claims paid since 1978

$10.13M

• Thunderstorm Wind149 · 2 deaths
• Hail114
• Strong Wind90
• Dense Fog88
• Heat71 · 1 death
• Flash Flood58 · 2 deaths
• Flood58 · 6 deaths
• Winter Weather57
• Drought45
• Frost/Freeze44

• TornadoF4, 20 mi path, 650 yd wide04/24/2002

  Hendrickson, Butler County

  14 injured, $30M damage

  What happened

  The tornado crossed into Butler County in the Mark Twain National Forest, then proceded east-southeast, passing 6 to 7 miles north of Poplar Bluff. An upscale residential subdivision beyond the northern outskirts of Poplar Bluff, just off U.S. Route 67, received extensive damage. At least two well-constructed homes were levelled by peak winds estimated around 210 MPH. A total of 50 homes were destroyed in Butler County, 16 others received major damage, and 30 homes received minor damage. Most of the damaged homes were north of Poplar Bluff. Total damage figures for Butler County included timber losses in the national forest. The total number of injuries requiring hospital care that were directly attributed to the storm was 16. Five of the injured were admitted in critical condition. There were no fatalities from the storm. A woman who lived off U.S. Highway 67 took shelter in her bathtub. She reported that she and the bathtub were blown about 200 feet. She was reportedly found in the median of the highway. She was treated for a cracked sternum, broken ribs, a broken toe, and bruised lungs. In another incident on Highway 67, a large chunk of asphalt was blown through a...

• Heat07/21/2005

  Butler

  40 injured

  What happened

  Several days of excessive heat and humidity caused two fatalities and a significant increase in heat-related illnesses. In Cape Girardeau, two residents of a home without air conditioning died. The windows were closed because one of the victims suffered from asthma. They relied mostly on fans to keep cool. In neighboring Scott County, a resident of Scott City died from indirect effects of the heat. The 43-year-old man, who had serious pre-existing medical problems, died in a small travel trailer in which the air conditioner was broken. Local hospitals reported that the majority of those treated were involved in outdoor activities. The heat index peaked around 115 degrees each afternoon, and dropped to only around 80 degrees at night. True air temperatures reached the upper 90's, with overnight lows in the mid 70's. At Cape Girardeau, the heat index topped out at 117 degrees on the 21st and 22nd, 112 on the 23rd, 115 on the 24th, 108 on the 25th, and 111 on the 26th. Heat indices were a little lower to the west of Cape Girardeau, including the Poplar Bluff area, where heat indices were often 3 to 5 degrees lower. The heat wave was the result of an expansive surface high pressure...

• Flood10/30/2009

  Stringtown, Butler County

  3 deaths, 1 injured

  What happened

  Flooding of roads and creeks was fairly widespread. Numerous county roads were under water. A portion of Highway N was closed. Several water rescues were conducted as motorists drove into flooded areas. Three teenagers drowned after their vehicle went into a flooded creek following a crash with another vehicle. The three high school students were in a vehicle that overturned in a flooded creek after colliding with another vehicle on Highway PP. One of the vehicles hydroplaned and struck the other. The three victims were trapped in the overturned vehicle and had to be extricated. The driver of the other vehicle also went into the water but was able to escape with only minor injuries. The incident occurred on the west edge of Poplar Bluff.

• TornadoEF3, 17.92 mi path, 350 yd wide03/15/2025

  Stringtown, Butler County

  1 death, $15M damage

  What happened

  An EF-3 tornado started along County Road 462 southeast of Stringtown and moved east northeast along County Road 450 all the way into Poplar Bluff. On the way it damaged numerous trees and did significant damage to several homes. Right as it crossed U.S. 67 on the northwest side of Poplar Bluff it struck a church and a nearby mobile home park. One person was killed when their mobile home was destroyed. It then did mainly roof damage to numerous buildings as it continued east northeast through town. It crossed U.S. 60 and headed northeast and completely destroyed a home on Highway T. It eventually dissipated as it reached County Road 572 northwest of Rombauer or just east of Saint Francois. Hundreds of trees were damaged. The estimated peak wind was 145 mph.

• Thunderstorm Wind61 kt wind05/08/2009

  Poplar Bluff, Butler County

  2 deaths, $45K damage

  What happened

  A moving vehicle along Highway 53 was destroyed by a very large oak tree that fell on it. Both occupants of the vehicle were killed, probably on impact. A small fire started in the engine compartment after emergency responders arrived. A 40-foot semi-trailer was overturned in the immediate vicinity of the crushed vehicle. The tin roof was lifted off a barn. A portion of a large shed collapsed.

• Winter Storm01/27/2009

  Butler

  $19.7M damage

  What happened

  This prolonged, major winter storm was termed the worst in decades for southeast Missouri. The storm dumped 6 to 10 inches of sleet and snow along and north of a line from Van Buren through Greenville to Cape Girardeau. This resulted in very difficult driving conditions along with at least two dozen roof collapses. South of that line, at least one inch of ice accumulated. Locally 1.5 to 2 inches of ice accumulated south of a line from Poplar Bluff to Dexter to Benton. This resulted in catastrophic damage to trees, power lines, and utility poles in places such as Dexter, Sikeston, Charleston, and New Madrid. A utility company serving much of the region reported this was the most damaging event in the history of the company. More than 145 miles of high-voltage transmission lines were down in that company's area alone. A utility manager stated that ice accumulation made high voltage lines five inches in diameter. This was sufficient to bring down the two-pole structures with crossarms that carry transmission lines. At least 6,000 power poles in southeast Missouri were replaced after being snapped or downed. One utility company briefed the governor that restoration of its...

• Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind04/28/2026

  Qulin, Butler County

  $1,000 damage

• Thunderstorm Wind53 kt wind04/28/2026

  Poplr Blff Flds Arpt, Butler County

• Thunderstorm Wind61 kt wind04/28/2026

  Neelyville, Butler County

  $3,000 damage

• Thunderstorm Wind61 kt wind04/28/2026

  Neelyville, Butler County

  $35K damage

• Thunderstorm Wind61 kt wind04/28/2026

  Hendrickson, Butler County

  $5,000 damage

• Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind04/28/2026

  Stringtown, Butler County

• Hail1" hail04/17/2026

  Neelyville, Butler County

• Hail1" hail04/16/2026

  Poplr Bluff Davis Ar, Butler County

• Unnamed storm (1941)09/17/1941 · Landfall: TX · 985 mbTropical storm40 mph nearby
• Unnamed storm (1915)08/05/1915 · Landfall: TX · 940 mbTropical storm40 mph nearby
• Unnamed storm (1906)09/19/1906 · Landfall: MS · 953 mbTropical storm40 mph nearby

• Poplar Bluff PwsServes 17,043 · Surface water · Local government1 health violation
• Butler County Pwsd 1Serves 12,000 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Butler County Pwsd 3Serves 2,600 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+7 monitoring or reporting
• Butler County Pwsd 2Serves 1,500 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Neelyville PwsServes 485 · Purchased groundwater · Local government1 health violation+23 monitoring or reporting
• Butler County Pwsd 104Serves 475 · Purchased groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
• Qulin PwsServes 375 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Fisk PwsServes 342 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+36 monitoring or reporting