Photo: Jonnyboyca at English Wikipedia · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, Brea faces more hazard damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brea gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, #452 of 847 in California. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (56%), then river and rain flooding (41%). Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 1996.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Brea faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Earthquakes
River and rain flooding
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Brea’s grade
Earthquakes are 56% of the building damage FEMA expects in Brea, and Brea’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Wildfire adds 2%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
D #452 of 847 in California; higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Brea’s residents live in 14 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical California town has higher expected damage than 92% of U.S. towns; within the state, Brea has more expected damage per building than 53% of California towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $43.6M a year in losses across Brea: $34.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Brea flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 1996
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Brea, from FEMA’s records: 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 100% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Brea isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Orange County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Brea
Disasters that paid out in Brea itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Brea), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2008Wildfires15 households applied for aid$19K aid approved$262K to the City of Brea for repairs
- 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mud and Debris Flows$11K to the City of Brea for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides10 households applied for aid$9K aid approved$82K to the City of Brea for repairs
Orange County has had 27 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 11 FEMA wildfire suppression grants (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Orange County, 2002–2022.
Old photos of Brea after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Brea archive →Brea and its neighbors
Brea is 5th of the 6 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yorba Linda | Dmore damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Placentia | Dmore damage than 91% | earthquakes | 3 |
| Rowland Heights | Dmore damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Fullerton | Dmore damage than 93% | earthquakes | 10 |
| Brea | Dmore damage than 93% | earthquakes | 1 |
| La Habra | D−more damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Brea faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Brea
Is Brea at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brea has higher expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #452 of 847 in California. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (56%) and river and rain flooding (41%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Brea flood?
Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Brea since 1996, $7K in all, or 0.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 100% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Brea in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Orange County, 19% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.0% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Brea?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Brea’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Brea?
By FEMA money that reached Brea, Wildfires (2008): 15 households applied for aid, $19K approved, and $262K to the City of Brea for repairs.
Is Brea at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (56%), and Brea’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Brea.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Brea’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.