Photo: Public domain · Public domainMore hazard damage per building is expected in Brooklyn Park than in 64% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brooklyn Park gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns, #210 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%). Flood insurance has paid 10 claims here since 1997.
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
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 Park’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Brooklyn Park, and Brooklyn Park’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 8%, at a rate in the top 10% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #210 of 274 in Minnesota; higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Brooklyn Park’s residents live in 16 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 Park has more expected damage per building than 77% of Minnesota towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $31.7M a year in losses across Brooklyn Park: $19.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Brooklyn Park flood? Sometimes: 10 flood claims since 1997
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Brooklyn Park, 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.
- The Severe flooding2 claims · $18K
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: Hennepin County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Brooklyn Park
Disasters that paid out in Brooklyn Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Brooklyn Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2016Severe Storms and Flooding26 households applied for aid$20K aid approved2 flood claims paid that year
- 2013Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding$80K to the City of Brooklyn Park 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 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 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maple Grove | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Osseo | B+less damage than 67% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Fridley | B−less damage than 53% | river and rain flooding | 11 |
| New Hope | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Coon Rapids | C+more damage than 63% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Brooklyn Park | C+more damage than 64% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Champlin | C−more damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 9 |
| 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 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.
- 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 Park
Is Brooklyn Park at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brooklyn Park has higher expected damage per building than 64% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #210 of 274 in Minnesota. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and tornadoes (9%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Brooklyn Park flood?
Flood insurance has paid 10 claims in Brooklyn Park since 1997, $169K in all, or 0.3 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 94% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Severe flooding (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 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 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, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (2013): $80K to the City of Brooklyn Park for repairs. By flood claims, Severe flooding: 2 paid, $18K.
Is Brooklyn Park at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Brooklyn Park’s rate for it is higher than 77% 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.