FEMA expects more hazard damage per building in Brent than in 89% of U.S. towns, mostly from hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brent gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns, #422 of 638 in Florida. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (79%), then river and rain flooding (18%). Flood insurance has paid 99 claims here since 1978.
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 Brent faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Hurricanes
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 Brent’s grade
Hurricanes are 79% of the building damage FEMA expects in Brent, and Brent’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 18% (lower than 81% of U.S. census tracts).
D #422 of 638 in Florida; higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Brent’s residents live in 8 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Florida town has higher expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Brent has more expected damage per building than 66% of Florida towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $11.4M a year in losses across Brent: $9.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Brent flood? Sometimes: 99 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Brent, from FEMA’s records: 12.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms27 claims · $3.8M
- Hurricane Sally22 claims · $1.4M
- The Severe Storms and Flooding9 claims · $75K
Brent isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Escambia County.The storms Brent remembers
None of the 31 disasters declared for Escambia County shows FEMA aid or repair money reaching Brent itself in FEMA’s records, so these are its biggest flood-claim years.
- 201427 flood claims paidThe year of Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding, declared for Escambia County
- 202023 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Sally, declared for Escambia County
- 197913 flood claims paidThe year of Hurricane Frederic, declared for Escambia County
Escambia County has had 31 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Also 1 FEMA wildfire suppression grant (Fire Management Assistance, not a disaster declaration) for fires in Escambia County, 2001–2001.
Old photos of Brent after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Brent archive →Brent and its neighbors
Brent is 2nd of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goulding | Dmore damage than 88% | hurricanes | 33 |
| Brent | Dmore damage than 89% | hurricanes | 99 |
| Ensley | Dmore damage than 90% | hurricanes | 95 |
| Pensacola | Dmore damage than 90% | hurricanes | 923 |
| West Pensacola | Dmore damage than 90% | hurricanes | 132 |
| Ferry Pass | Dmore damage than 90% | hurricanes | 107 |
| Bellview | Dmore damage than 93% | hurricanes | 235 |
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 Brent faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- The season runs June through November and peaks from mid-August to mid-October.
- Bring in porch furniture and anything the wind can throw.
- Fill the gas tank and charge phones before the storm arrives.
- 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 Brent
Is Brent at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brent has higher expected damage per building than 89% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk, #422 of 638 in Florida. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (79%) and river and rain flooding (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Brent flood?
Flood insurance has paid 99 claims in Brent since 1978, $7.5M in all, or 12.1 per 1,000 homes, more than 77% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (27).
Is Brent 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 Escambia County, 62% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 8.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Brent?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Brent’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 Brent?
By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 27 paid, $3.8M.
Is Brent at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (79%), and Brent’s rate for it is in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Brent.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Brent’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.