Photo: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Brooklyn Center’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brooklyn Center gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #254 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1990.
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 Center 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
Hail
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 Center’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Brooklyn Center, and Brooklyn Center’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 6%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #254 of 274 in Minnesota; higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Brooklyn Center’s residents live in 9 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Minnesota town has lower expected damage than 57% of U.S. towns; within the state, Brooklyn Center has more expected damage per building than 93% of Minnesota towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $13.1M a year in losses across Brooklyn Center: $8.4M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Brooklyn Center flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1990
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Brooklyn Center, from FEMA’s records: 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 94% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Brooklyn Center isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hennepin County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Brooklyn Center
Disasters that paid out in Brooklyn Center itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Brooklyn Center), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding7 households applied for aid$12K aid approved
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$43K to the City of Brooklyn Center for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
Hennepin County has had 14 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often floods, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Brooklyn Center after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Brooklyn Center archive →Brooklyn Center and its neighbors
Brooklyn Center 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | B+less damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 108 |
| Fridley | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| Crystal | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Brooklyn Park | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Robbinsdale | Cmore damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Brooklyn Center | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
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 Center 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.
- Park in a garage or under cover when storms are forecast.
- Stay away from windows while it falls.
- Photograph roof and car damage for your insurer.
- 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 Center
Is Brooklyn Center at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brooklyn Center has higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #254 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and tornadoes (6%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Brooklyn Center flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Brooklyn Center since 1990, $12K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Brooklyn Center 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 Hennepin County, 15% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Brooklyn Center?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Brooklyn Center’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 Center?
By FEMA money that reached Brooklyn Center, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2013): $43K to the City of Brooklyn Center for repairs.
Is Brooklyn Center at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Brooklyn Center’s rate for it is higher than 90% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Brooklyn Center.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Brooklyn Center’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.