East Main Street Commercial Historic District · Photo: Blastoids · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA puts Brooklet’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 71% of U.S. towns, led by hurricanes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brooklet gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns, #226 of 264 in Georgia. Most of that expected damage is hurricanes (45%), then river and rain flooding (41%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2005.
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 Brooklet 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
Earthquakes
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 Brooklet’s grade
Hurricanes are 45% of the building damage FEMA expects in Brooklet, and Brooklet’s rate of hurricanes damage is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts. Next is river and rain flooding at 41% (lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts).
C #226 of 264 in Georgia; higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Brooklet’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Georgia town has lower expected damage than 72% of U.S. towns; within the state, Brooklet has more expected damage per building than 86% of Georgia towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $636K a year in losses across Brooklet: $425K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Brooklet flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2005
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Brooklet, from FEMA’s records: 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Brooklet isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Bulloch County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Brooklet
Disasters that paid out in Brooklet itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Brooklet), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Hurricane Helene1,095 households applied for aid$618K aid approved$183K to the City of Brooklet for repairs
- 2024Tropical Storm Debby71 households applied for aid$128K aid approved
- 2016Hurricane Matthew145 households applied for aid$113K aid approved$63K to the City of Brooklet for repairs
Bulloch County has had 13 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.
Old photos of Brooklet after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Brooklet archive →Get ready for what Brooklet 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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 Brooklet
Is Brooklet at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brooklet has higher expected damage per building than 71% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #226 of 264 in Georgia. Most of the expected damage is hurricanes (45%) and river and rain flooding (41%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Brooklet flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Brooklet since 2005, $45K in all, or 2.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Brooklet 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 Bulloch County, 26% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 1.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Brooklet?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Brooklet’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 Brooklet?
By FEMA money that reached Brooklet, Hurricane Helene (2024): 1,095 households applied for aid, $618K approved, and $183K to the City of Brooklet for repairs.
Is Brooklet at risk from hurricanes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (45%), and Brooklet’s rate for it is in the top 9% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Brooklet.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Brooklet’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.