Photo: LittleT889 · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Brentwood than in 82% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brentwood gets a C− for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns, #206 of 247 in Missouri. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%), then earthquakes (18%). Flood insurance has paid 503 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 stands out about Brentwood’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
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
Earthquakes
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 Brentwood’s grade
River and rain flooding is 71% of the building damage FEMA expects in Brentwood, and Brentwood’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 83% of U.S. census tracts. Hail adds 7%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C− #206 of 247 in Missouri; higher expected damage per building than 82% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Brentwood’s residents live in 3 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Missouri town has higher expected damage than 59% of U.S. towns; within the state, Brentwood has more expected damage per building than 83% of Missouri towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $8.0M a year in losses across Brentwood: $4.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Brentwood flood? Yes: 503 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Brentwood, from FEMA’s records: 113.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Ike75 claims · $9.7M
- The Midwest Flooding47 claims · $1.5M
- The Late July Flooding26 claims · $5.0M
Brentwood is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9) for its flood-proofing work.
Insurance rates: St. Louis County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Brentwood
Disasters that paid out in Brentwood itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Brentwood), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding1 households applied for aid$16K aid approved$101K to the City of Brentwood for repairs
- 2022Severe Storms and Flooding14 households applied for aid$33K aid approved$2.9M to the City of Brentwood for repairs32 flood claims paid that year
- 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding2 households applied for aid$602 aid approved$24K to the City of Brentwood for repairs20 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and a Tornado39 households applied for aid$69K aid approved83 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Winter Storms$22K to the City of Brentwood for repairs
- 2006Severe Storms$53K to the City of Brentwood for repairs
St. Louis County has had 30 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 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 5th of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webster Groves | C+more damage than 65% | river and rain flooding | 64 |
| Richmond Heights | Cmore damage than 72% | river and rain flooding | 10 |
| Rock Hill | Cmore damage than 75% | river and rain flooding | 118 |
| Maplewood | C−more damage than 81% | river and rain flooding | 86 |
| Brentwood | C−more damage than 82% | river and rain flooding | 503 |
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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- 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.
- Brentwood residents get 05% off flood insurance.
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 82% of U.S. towns: C− for hazard risk, #206 of 247 in Missouri. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (71%) and earthquakes (18%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Brentwood flood?
Flood insurance has paid 503 claims in Brentwood since 1978, $34.9M in all, or 113.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 97% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 56 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Ike (75).
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 St. Louis County, 34% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Brentwood?
Brentwood is in FEMA’s Community Rating System (class 9), which takes 05% off federal flood insurance policies for its flood-proofing work. 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, Severe Storms and Flooding (2022): 14 households applied for aid, $33K approved, and $2.9M to the City of Brentwood for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Ike: 75 paid, $9.7M.
Is Brentwood at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (71%), and Brentwood’s rate for it is higher than 83% 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.