Photo: Hayden Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Brewster than in 73% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brewster gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns, #342 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%). Flood insurance has paid 6 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 Brewster 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
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 Brewster’s grade
River and rain flooding is 81% of the building damage FEMA expects in Brewster, and Brewster’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 6% (higher than 64% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #342 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Brewster’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Brewster has less expected damage per building than 55% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $452K a year in losses across Brewster: $374K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Brewster flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Brewster, from FEMA’s records: 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Floyd1 claim · $28K
Brewster isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Putnam County.7 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Brewster
Disasters that paid out in Brewster itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Brewster), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2023Severe Storms and Flooding$1.9M to the Village of Brewster for repairs
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida$598K to the Village of Brewster for repairs
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$8K to the Village of Brewster for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy27 households applied for aid$7K aid approved$38K to the Village of Brewster for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene115 households applied for aid$158K aid approved$23K to the Village of Brewster for repairs
- 2003Snow$5K to the Village of Brewster for repairs
Show all 7
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$15K to the Village of Brewster for repairs1 flood claim paid for it, $28K
Putnam County has had 20 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often hurricanes and tropical storms, then severe storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Brewster after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Brewster archive →Get ready for what Brewster 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.
- 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 Brewster
Is Brewster at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brewster has lower expected damage per building than 73% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #342 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (81%) and earthquakes (6%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Brewster flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Brewster since 1978, $41K in all, or 5.2 per 1,000 homes, more than 61% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. The most claims came from Hurricane Floyd (1).
Is Brewster 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 Putnam County, 63% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Brewster?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Brewster’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 Brewster?
By FEMA money that reached Brewster, Severe Storms and Flooding (2023): $1.9M to the Village of Brewster for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Floyd: 1 paid, $28K.
Is Brewster at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (81%), and Brewster’s rate for it is lower than 52% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Brewster.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Brewster’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.