Photo: Vaultguy999 · CC BY-SA 4.0Less hazard damage per building is expected in Brooklyn than in 74% of U.S. towns, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brooklyn gets a B+ for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns, #567 of 993 in Ohio. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%). Flood insurance has paid 6 claims here since 1981.
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 Brooklyn 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
Tornadoes
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 Brooklyn’s grade
River and rain flooding is 87% of the building damage FEMA expects in Brooklyn, and Brooklyn’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts. Next is tornadoes at 8% (higher than 60% of U.S. census tracts).
B+ #567 of 993 in Ohio; lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Brooklyn’s residents live in 3 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, Brooklyn has more expected damage per building than 57% of Ohio towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $3.0M a year in losses across Brooklyn: $2.3M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Brooklyn flood? Rarely: 6 flood claims since 1981
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Brooklyn, from FEMA’s records: 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 75% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Brooklyn 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.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Brooklyn
Disasters that paid out in Brooklyn itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Brooklyn), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2012Severe Storms and Flooding Due to the Remnants of Hurricane Sandy$27K to the City of Brooklyn for repairs1 flood claim paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, and Flooding11 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2004Severe Storms and Flooding6 households applied for aid$3K aid approved
- 2003Tornadoes, Flooding, Severe Storms, and High Winds6 households applied for aid$1K 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 Brooklyn after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Brooklyn archive →Brooklyn and its neighbors
Brooklyn has the lowest expected damage per building of the 2 graded towns here. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn | B+less damage than 74% | river and rain flooding | 6 |
| Cleveland | B+less damage than 70% | river and rain flooding | 82 |
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 Brooklyn 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.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 Brooklyn
Is Brooklyn at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Brooklyn has lower expected damage per building than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for hazard risk, #567 of 993 in Ohio. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (87%) and tornadoes (8%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Brooklyn flood?
Flood insurance has paid 6 claims in Brooklyn since 1981, $129K in all, or 1.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 75% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Brooklyn 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 Brooklyn?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Brooklyn’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 Brooklyn?
By FEMA money that reached Brooklyn, Severe Storms and Flooding Due to the Remnants of Hurricane Sandy (2012): $27K to the City of Brooklyn for repairs.
Is Brooklyn at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (87%), and Brooklyn’s rate for it is higher than 53% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Brooklyn.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Brooklyn’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.