Photo: Viscountrapier at English Wikipedia · Public domainOn FEMA’s figures, few U.S. towns expect less hazard damage per building than Brookville, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brookville gets an A+ for hazard risk: among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns, #9 of 758 in New York. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (56%), then earthquakes (20%). Flood insurance has paid 4 claims here since 1979.
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 Brookville 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 Brookville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 56% of the building damage FEMA expects in Brookville, and Brookville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 97% of U.S. census tracts. Next is earthquakes at 20% (higher than 72% of U.S. census tracts).
A+ #9 of 758 in New York; among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns (21,298).
Brookville’s residents live in 2 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, Brookville has less expected damage per building than 99% of New York towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.7M a year in losses across Brookville: $1.5M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Brookville flood? Rarely: 4 flood claims since 1979
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Brookville, from FEMA’s records: 4.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Brookville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Nassau County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Brookville
Disasters that paid out in Brookville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Brookville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2021Remnants of Hurricane Ida2 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2020Tropical Storm Isaias$60K to the Village of Brookville for repairs
- 2012Hurricane Sandy$135K to the Village of Brookville for repairs
- 2011Hurricane Irene$28K to the Village of Brookville for repairs
- 2003Snow$9K to the Village of Brookville for repairs
Nassau County has had 22 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 Brookville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Brookville archive →Brookville and its neighbors
Brookville has the lowest expected damage per building of the 6 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brookville | A+among the lowest damage | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Old Westbury | A+less damage than 97% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| East Hills | A+less damage than 96% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Muttontown | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Upper Brookville | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Old Brookville | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Jericho | — | 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 Brookville 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 Brookville
Is Brookville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brookville has among the lowest expected damage per building of U.S. towns: A+ for hazard risk, #9 of 758 in New York. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (56%) and earthquakes (20%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Brookville flood?
Flood insurance has paid 4 claims in Brookville since 1979, $30K in all, or 4.7 per 1,000 homes, more than 59% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Is Brookville 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 Nassau County, 76% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 9.6% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Brookville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Brookville’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 Brookville?
By FEMA money that reached Brookville, Hurricane Sandy (2012): $135K to the Village of Brookville for repairs.
Is Brookville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (56%), and Brookville’s rate for it is lower than 97% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Brookville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Brookville’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.