Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Brooklyn Park’s expected hazard damage per building below that of 93% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brooklyn Park gets an A for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns, #193 of 261 in Maryland. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%), then hurricanes (13%). Flood insurance has paid 12 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 Brooklyn Park 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
Hurricanes
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 Brooklyn Park’s grade
River and rain flooding is 73% of the building damage FEMA expects in Brooklyn Park, and Brooklyn Park’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 80% of U.S. census tracts. Next is hurricanes at 13% (higher than 78% of U.S. census tracts).
A #193 of 261 in Maryland; lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Brooklyn Park’s residents live in 4 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, Brooklyn Park has more expected damage per building than 74% of Maryland towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Brooklyn Park: $1.1M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Brooklyn Park flood? Sometimes: 12 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Brooklyn Park, from FEMA’s records: 2.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 62% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Mid-spring storms2 claims · $10K
- Hurricane Sandy1 claim · $852
- Hurricane Isabel1 claim · $8K
Brooklyn Park isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Anne Arundel County.1 federal disaster brought FEMA money to Brooklyn Park
Disasters that paid out in Brooklyn Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to Brooklyn Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Hurricane Isabel4 households applied for aid$3K aid approved1 flood claim paid for it, $8K
Anne Arundel County has had 19 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often winter storms, then hurricanes and tropical storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Brooklyn Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Brooklyn Park archive →Brooklyn Park and its neighbors
Brooklyn Park is 6th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linthicum | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 8 |
| Glen Burnie | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 27 |
| Ferndale | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Baltimore Highlands | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Baltimore | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 763 |
| Brooklyn Park | Aless damage than 93% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
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 Brooklyn Park 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.
- 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.
- 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 Brooklyn Park
Is Brooklyn Park at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brooklyn Park has lower expected damage per building than 93% of U.S. towns: A for hazard risk, #193 of 261 in Maryland. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (73%) and hurricanes (13%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Brooklyn Park flood?
Flood insurance has paid 12 claims in Brooklyn Park since 1978, $234K in all, or 2.0 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 62% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Mid-spring storms (2).
Is Brooklyn Park 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 Anne Arundel County, 2.5% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Brooklyn Park?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Brooklyn Park’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 Brooklyn Park?
By FEMA money that reached Brooklyn Park, Hurricane Isabel (2003): 4 households applied for aid, $3K approved. By flood claims, Mid-spring storms: 2 paid, $10K.
Is Brooklyn Park at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (73%), and Brooklyn Park’s rate for it is lower than 80% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Brooklyn Park.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Brooklyn Park’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.