Grossdale Station · Photo: Teemu08 at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0On FEMA’s figures, Brookfield faces more hazard damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brookfield gets a C for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns, #533 of 768 in Illinois. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%). Flood insurance has paid 61 claims here since 1979.
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 Brookfield faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Tornadoes
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 Brookfield’s grade
River and rain flooding is 89% of the building damage FEMA expects in Brookfield, and Brookfield’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 7% (higher than 76% of U.S. census tracts).
C #533 of 768 in Illinois; higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Brookfield’s residents live in 5 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Illinois town has higher expected damage than 54% of U.S. towns; within the state, Brookfield has more expected damage per building than 69% of Illinois towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $9.8M a year in losses across Brookfield: $5.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Brookfield flood? Sometimes: 61 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Brookfield, from FEMA’s records: 7.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms15 claims · $312K
- Hurricane Ike11 claims · $166K
Brookfield isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cook County.9 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Brookfield
Disasters that paid out in Brookfield itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Brookfield), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Floodng37 households applied for aid$34K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding5 households applied for aid$10K aid approved
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding73 households applied for aid$112K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding425 households applied for aid$1.1M aid approved16 flood claims paid that year
- 2011Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$29K to the Village of Brookfield for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding368 households applied for aid$1.0M aid approved10 flood claims paid that year
Show all 9
- 2008Severe Storms and Flooding66 households applied for aid$157K aid approved11 flood claims paid that year
- 2000Illinois Winter Snow Storms$11K to the Village of Brookfield for repairs
- 1999Il-winter Storm 1/1/99$17K to the Village of Brookfield for repairs
Cook County has had 21 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.
Old photos of Brookfield after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Brookfield archive →Brookfield and its neighbors
Brookfield has the lowest expected damage per building of the 7 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brookfield | Cmore damage than 68% | river and rain flooding | 61 |
| Lyons Township | Cmore damage than 69% | river and rain flooding | 185 |
| North Riverside | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
| Riverside | C−more damage than 79% | river and rain flooding | 130 |
| Riverside Township | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 184 |
| La Grange Park | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Lyons | Dmore damage than 86% | river and rain flooding | 69 |
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 Brookfield faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 Brookfield
Is Brookfield at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brookfield has higher expected damage per building than 68% of U.S. towns: C for hazard risk, #533 of 768 in Illinois. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (89%) and tornadoes (7%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Brookfield flood?
Flood insurance has paid 61 claims in Brookfield since 1979, $842K in all, or 7.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 69% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 12 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (15).
Is Brookfield 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 Cook County, 32% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Brookfield?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Brookfield’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 Brookfield?
By FEMA money that reached Brookfield, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2013): 425 households applied for aid, $1.1M approved. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 15 paid, $312K.
Is Brookfield at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (89%), and Brookfield’s rate for it is higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Brookfield.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Brookfield’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.