On FEMA’s figures, Brentwood faces more hazard damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brentwood gets a D− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). Flood insurance has paid 33 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 Brentwood 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
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 Brentwood’s grade
River and rain flooding is 96% of the building damage FEMA expects in Brentwood, and Brentwood’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
D− #260 of 261 in Maryland; higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Brentwood’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Maryland town has lower expected damage than 97% of U.S. towns; within the state, Brentwood has more expected damage per building than 100% of Maryland towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Brentwood: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Brentwood flood? Sometimes: 33 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Brentwood, from FEMA’s records: 21.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Brentwood isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Prince George's County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Brentwood
Disasters that paid out in Brentwood itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Brentwood), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2016Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$7K to the Town of Brentwood for repairs
- 2010Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms$4K to the Town of Brentwood for repairs
- 2003Hurricane Isabel13 households applied for aid$23K aid approved
- 2003Snow$791 to the Town of Brentwood for repairs
- 2000Severe Winter Storm$2K to the Town of Brentwood for repairs
Prince George's County has had 15 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Brentwood after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Brentwood archive →Brentwood and its neighbors
Brentwood is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cottage City | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Hyattsville | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Mount Rainier | Dmore damage than 87% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Brentwood | D−more damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 33 |
| North Brentwood | — | 624 residents; we grade 1,000+ | |
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 Brentwood 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.
- 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 Brentwood
Is Brentwood at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brentwood has higher expected damage per building than 95% of U.S. towns: D− for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (96%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Brentwood flood?
Flood insurance has paid 33 claims in Brentwood since 1979, $556K in all, or 21.8 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Brentwood 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 Prince George's County, 0.9% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Brentwood?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Brentwood’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 Brentwood?
By FEMA money that reached Brentwood, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 13 households applied for aid, $23K approved.
Is Brentwood at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (96%), and Brentwood’s rate for it is in the top 2% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Brentwood.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Brentwood’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.