Photo: Vitsuha · CC BY-SA 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Brookhaven than in 80% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brookhaven gets an A− for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns, #293 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%), then hurricanes (12%). Flood insurance has paid 3,825 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 Brookhaven’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Brookhaven 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
Earthquakes
Coastal flooding
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 Brookhaven’s grade
River and rain flooding is 75% of the building damage FEMA expects in Brookhaven, and Brookhaven’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts. Coastal flooding adds 5%, at a rate in the top 4% of U.S. census tracts.
A− #293 of 758 in New York; lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Brookhaven’s residents live in 119 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical New York town has lower expected damage than 69% of U.S. towns; within the state, Brookhaven has less expected damage per building than 61% of New York towns.
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Brookhaven has lower expected damage per building than 89% (#43 of 400). Because it is so big, its total expected yearly loss, $95.6M, is the 121th largest of those 400.
Does Brookhaven flood? Yes: 3,825 flood claims since 1978
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Brookhaven, from FEMA’s records: 21.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- Hurricane Sandy1,704 claims · $91.3M
- The December Storm - nor’easter234 claims · $4.8M
- The “Halloween” storm231 claims · $3.1M
Brookhaven isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Suffolk County.15 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Brookhaven
Disasters that paid out in Brookhaven itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Brookhaven), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storm and Flooding$228K to the Town of Brookhaven for repairs93 flood claims paid that year
- 2022Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$73K to the Town of Brookhaven for repairs8 flood claims paid that year
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida9 households applied for aid$1.9M to the Town of Brookhaven for repairs14 flood claims paid that year
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$8.0M to the Town of Brookhaven for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2017Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$94K to the Town of Brookhaven for repairs13 flood claims paid that year
- 2013Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$2.0M to the Town of Brookhaven for repairs4 flood claims paid that year
Show all 15
- 2012Hurricane Sandy78 households applied for aid$186K aid approved$29.8M to the Town of Brookhaven for repairs1,704 flood claims paid for it, $91.3M
- 2011Hurricane Irene7 households applied for aid$19K aid approved$5.1M to the Town of Brookhaven for repairs166 flood claims paid for it, $3.7M
- 2011Hurricane Irene$1K to the Town of Brookhaven for repairs166 flood claims paid for it, $3.7M
- 2010Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm$500K to the Town of Brookhaven for repairs
- 2010Severe Storms and Flooding$491K to the Town of Brookhaven for repairs
- 2009Severe Storms and Flooding Assoc W Td Ida and Nor’easter$6.0M to the Town of Brookhaven for repairs9 flood claims paid that year
- 2007Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding$4.4M to the Town of Brookhaven for repairs27 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$1.1M to the Town of Brookhaven for repairs15 flood claims paid that year
- 1999Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations$96K to the Town of Brookhaven for repairs7 flood claims paid that year
Suffolk County has had 26 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then hurricanes and tropical 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 Brookhaven after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Brookhaven archive →Brookhaven and its neighbors
Brookhaven is 4th of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smithtown | A+less damage than 98% | river and rain flooding | 225 |
| Riverhead | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 632 |
| Islip | Aless damage than 92% | river and rain flooding | 4,791 |
| Brookhaven | A−less damage than 80% | river and rain flooding | 3,825 |
| Calverton | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Manorville | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Wading River | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| East Shoreham | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Stony Brook | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| Bayport | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
| West Sayville | — | a Census area inside a town; graded with the town | |
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 Brookhaven 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.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Know your evacuation zone and the way off the coast.
- Storm surge comes fast: leave when you’re told, not when the water arrives.
- Move cars to high ground before king tides and nor’easters.
- 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 Brookhaven
Is Brookhaven at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brookhaven has lower expected damage per building than 80% of U.S. towns: A− for hazard risk, #293 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (75%) and hurricanes (12%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Brookhaven flood?
Flood insurance has paid 3,825 claims in Brookhaven since 1978, $127M in all, or 21.3 per 1,000 homes, more than 85% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 432 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Hurricane Sandy (1,704).
Is Brookhaven 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 Suffolk County, 66% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 5.4% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Brookhaven?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Brookhaven’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 Brookhaven?
By FEMA money that reached Brookhaven, Hurricane Sandy (2012): 78 households applied for aid, $186K approved, and $29.8M to the Town of Brookhaven for repairs. By flood claims, Hurricane Sandy: 1,704 paid, $91.3M.
Is Brookhaven at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (75%), and Brookhaven’s rate for it is lower than 62% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Brookhaven.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Brookhaven’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.