Photo: SilentMatt Psychedelic · CC BY-SA 4.0FEMA puts Brook Park’s expected hazard damage per building above that of 62% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brook Park gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns, #883 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). Flood insurance has paid 2 claims here since 2017.
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 Brook Park 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
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 Brook Park’s grade
River and rain flooding is 94% of the building damage FEMA expects in Brook Park, and Brook Park’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #883 of 993 in Ohio; higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Brook Park’s residents live in 6 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Ohio town has lower expected damage than 79% of U.S. towns; within the state, Brook Park has more expected damage per building than 89% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $5.9M a year in losses across Brook Park: $4.7M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Brook Park flood? Rarely: 2 flood claims since 2017
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Brook Park, from FEMA’s records: 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Brook Park isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Cuyahoga County.3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Brook Park
Disasters that paid out in Brook Park itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Brook Park), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Severe Storms and Flooding Due to the Remnants of Hurricane Sandy$47K to the City of Brook Park for repairs
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding2 households applied for aid$185 aid approved$8K to the City of Brook Park for repairs
- 2003Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High Winds9 households applied for aid$7K aid approved
Cuyahoga County has had 15 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 Brook Park after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Brook Park archive →Brook Park and its neighbors
Brook Park is 8th of the 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middleburg Heights | A+less damage than 95% | river and rain flooding | 31 |
| Berea | Aless damage than 94% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| North Olmsted | Aless damage than 91% | river and rain flooding | 44 |
| Fairview Park | Aless damage than 90% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
| Olmsted Township | A−less damage than 84% | river and rain flooding | 4 |
| Parma | A−less damage than 77% | river and rain flooding | 28 |
| Cleveland | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 82 |
| Brook Park | C+more damage than 62% | river and rain flooding | 2 |
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 Brook Park 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.
- 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 Brook Park
Is Brook Park at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brook Park has higher expected damage per building than 62% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #883 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (94%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Brook Park flood?
Flood insurance has paid 2 claims in Brook Park since 2017, $344K in all, or 0.2 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 96% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Brook Park 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 Cuyahoga County, 38% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Brook Park?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Brook Park’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 Brook Park?
By FEMA money that reached Brook Park, Severe Storms and Flooding Due to the Remnants of Hurricane Sandy (2012): $47K to the City of Brook Park for repairs.
Is Brook Park at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (94%), and Brook Park’s rate for it is higher than 81% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Brook Park.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Brook Park’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.