Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Brookline as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brookline gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns, #65 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%), then hurricanes (14%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1986.
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 Brookline 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
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 Brookline’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Brookline, and Brookline’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 3%, at a rate in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #65 of 126 in New Hampshire; higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Brookline’s residents live in 2 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical New Hampshire town has higher expected damage than 58% of U.S. towns; within the state, Brookline has more expected damage per building than 51% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.9M a year in losses across Brookline: $1.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Brookline flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1986
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Brookline, from FEMA’s records: 3.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 50% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Brookline isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Hillsborough County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Brookline
Disasters that paid out in Brookline itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Brookline), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2015Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$20K to the Town of Brookline for repairs
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$24K to the Town of Brookline for repairs
- 2011Severe Storm and Snowstorm$36K to the Town of Brookline for repairs
- 2008Severe Winter Storm$31K to the Town of Brookline for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding9 households applied for aid$25K aid approved$18K to the Town of Brookline for repairs2 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding4 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
Show all 7
- 2005Record And/or Near Record Snow$9K to the Town of Brookline for repairs
Hillsborough County has had 26 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Brookline after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Brookline archive →Brookline and its neighbors
Brookline is 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mason | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Townsend | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 15 |
| Hollis | Bless damage than 55% | river and rain flooding | 3 |
| Brookline | C+more damage than 58% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Milford | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 7 |
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 Brookline 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.
- 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 Brookline
Is Brookline at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brookline has higher expected damage per building than 58% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #65 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and hurricanes (14%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Brookline flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Brookline since 1986, $56K in all, or 3.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 50% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Brookline 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 Hillsborough County, 34% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.7% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Brookline?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Brookline’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 Brookline?
By FEMA money that reached Brookline, Severe Storms and Flooding (2007): 9 households applied for aid, $25K approved, and $18K to the Town of Brookline for repairs.
Is Brookline at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Brookline’s rate for it is higher than 68% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Brookline.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Brookline’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.